NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are set to return to Earth after a nine-month stint in space. They faced an unexpected delay due to complications with their original transport, Boeing's Starliner capsule, which had to fly back empty for safety reasons. Their replacements will arrive shortly, allowing for a brief overlap period before Wilmore and Williams board a SpaceX capsule for their return. Family ties and emotional challenges have marked their extended mission, which was originally expected to last only a week.
Speaking from the space station on Tuesday, Williams said the hardest part about the unexpected extended stay was the wait by their families back home.
Wilmore and Williams expected to be gone just a week or so when they launched last June aboard Boeing's new Starliner capsule, making its crew debut after years of delay.
Last month, Nasa announced the next crew would launch in a used capsule instead, pushing up liftoff to 12 March.
Wilmore and Williams retired Navy captains and repeat space fliers have insisted over the months that they are healthy and committed to the mission as long as it takes.
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