The two astronauts stuck in the International Space Station have said they’re “enjoying” their stay, according to Luke O’Neill. 

Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Suni Williams left for the International Space Station (ISS) in June and were supposed to return eight days later. 

Now, NASA has said they might not be back until February. 

The astronauts arrived there on a Boeing Starliner - the first crew to use the craft. 

Atronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore give a news conference aboard the International Space Station, 10/07/2024. (NASA via AP)

But the vessel suffered thruster failures and helium leaks en route, raising doubts about whether it could carry them back to Earth safely - leaving the pair in space limbo. 

Trinity Professor Luke O’Neill said reports suggest Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams aren’t “too negative” about the situation. 

“They miss their family, obviously, but now they're able to communicate with Earth,” he told Show Me the Science. 

“They're into astronauts that are stuck up there, and I did see the word ‘indefinitely’ - now that seems a bit too negative, but NASA have yet to say when they're going to bring them down. 

“It could be any day.” 

NASA said this week that if they do not use the Starliner to collect the astronauts, they will turn to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which will not be available until February. 

“They might turn to our favourite Bond villain,” Prof O’Neill said. 

There are now nine astronauts based on the ISS with the addition of Miss Williams and Mr Wilmore – but Prof O’Neill said there’s room for everyone. 

“The size of it, to give an idea, is the length of a football field, so imagine the Aviva Stadium. It's as long as that,” he said. 

“It’s the space of a 747, the big jumbo jet. 

“That's divided among various things, living quarters, obviously social areas, but also labs and various technical parts are part of this. 

“Nine people inside a Boeing 747 isn’t too bad.” 

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