Astronauts from Boeing Starliner still on International Space Station WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio [Video]

The eight-day mission for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams was extended, but NASA wants to make it clear that the test pilots “aren’t stranded in space.”

During a news conference last week, NASA’s commercial crew program manager Steve Stich said the team’s return has been extended indefinitely but that Wilmore and Williams will return to Earth once testing on the Boeing Starliner’s thrusters is complete.

Stich said the pair are safe on the ISS but there is no return date set, WFTV reported.

Mark Nappi, the program manager, said reports that Williams and Wilmore are stranded are a mischaracterization.

“It’s pretty painful to read the things that are out there,” Nappi said, according to CBS News. “We’ve gotten a really good test flight…and it’s being viewed rather negatively. We’re not stuck on ISS. The crew is not in any danger, and there’s no increased risk when we decide to bring Suni and …