NASA's two stuck astronauts are finally closing in on their return to Earth after 9 months in space

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s two stuck astronauts are conscionable a fewer weeks distant from yet returning to Earth aft 9 months successful space.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams person to hold until their replacements get astatine the International Space Station adjacent week earlier they tin cheque retired aboriginal this month.

They’ll beryllium joined connected their SpaceX thrust location by two astronauts who launched by themselves successful September alongside 2 bare seats.

Speaking from the abstraction presumption connected Tuesday, Williams said the hardest portion astir the unexpected extended enactment was the hold by their families backmost home.

“It’s been a roller coaster for them, astir apt a small much truthful than for us," she said.

Wilmore and Williams expected to beryllium gone conscionable a week oregon truthful erstwhile they launched past June aboard Boeing’s caller Starliner capsule, making its unit debut aft years of delay. The Starliner had truthful galore problems getting to the abstraction presumption that NASA ruled it excessively unsafe to transportation anyone and it flew backmost empty.

Their homecoming was further delayed by other completion clip needed for the marque caller SpaceX capsule that was expected to present their replacements.

Last month, NASA announced the adjacent unit would motorboat successful a utilized capsule instead, pushing up liftoff to March 12. The 2 crews volition walk astir a week unneurotic aboard the abstraction presumption earlier Wilmore and Williams depart with NASA’s Nick Hague and the Russian Space Agency’s Alexander Gorbunov.

Wilmore and Williams — retired Navy captains and repetition abstraction fliers — person insisted implicit the months that they are steadfast and committed to the ngo arsenic agelong arsenic it takes. They took a spacewalk unneurotic successful January.

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