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  Two astronauts who have been stuck in space for more than nine months are finally preparing to depart from the International Space Station and make their way back to Earth.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams initially launched to the ISS on 5 June with the intention of spending only eight days there.

They were on a mission to test Boeing’s much-anticipated Starliner, a spacecraft designed to compete with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which is used to transport astronauts to space.

Learn more: The health impacts of prolonged space stays

However, upon docking at the ISS, the Starliner encountered several major issues, including five helium leaks, five inactive maneuvering thrusters, and a malfunctioning propellant valve.

As a result, the Starliner returned to Earth without the astronauts, deeming it safer for them to wait in orbit.

Since their arrival, Wilmore and Williams, who are U.S. Navy veterans, have conducted spacewalks, experiments, and even contributed to resolving plumbing issues onboard.

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The astronauts have expressed their enjoyment of the mission, with Ms Williams stating that the space station is her “happy place”.

“Every day is interesting because we’re up in space and it’s a lot of fun,” she said earlier this month, although she added that the experience might be tough on family members back on Earth.

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The SpaceX vehicle that arrived to replace them reached the space station in September, carrying NASA’s Nick Hague, cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, and two other astronauts.

Wilmore and Williams stayed behind to ensure the mission’s continuation, despite an additional delay due to problems with the SpaceX rocket preparing to return them to Earth.

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