Their brief mission took an unexpected turn when problems, including fuel leaks, led to delays, and by September, it was deemed unsafe for their spacecraft to return to Earth. Consequently, the spacecraft left without them.

The pair, who had packed lightly for their short mission, have now been stranded as delays in the next crew rotation, initially planned for February, pushed their return by at least two more months. As a result, they’ve missed significant events such as Donald Trump s return to the White House, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the premiere of Wicked.

While most space missions last about six months, some can extend up to a year, making their extended stay on the ISS not entirely unusual, though it was unplanned. This week, during a live video event, the astronauts confidently stated they "don’t feel like castaways" when asked about their situation, referencing the film Cast Away. Suni added, "Eventually we want to go home... but we have a lot to do up here before we do."

NASA and Boeing have reassured the public that the astronauts are not "stuck," with recent deliveries bringing them food, clothes, water, oxygen, and even special items for holiday celebrations in space.

Despite their long stay, Butch and Suni also mentioned they have yet to witness the devastating California wildfires due to the station’s orbit. However, they are able to take photos when passing over the state, potentially helping officials manage the disaster.