NASA’s two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have to wait until their replacements arrive at the International Space Station next week before they can check out later this month.

Butch is a veteran of two spaceflights and has accumulated 178 days in space, according to Nasa, however this figure may rocket as his latest voyage hasn't yet been fully tallied up. He was selected as an astronaut by Nasa in July 2000 and is a retired US Navy captain.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are all set to return to Earth after a long nine-month stay in space. Their homecoming is dependent on their replacements' arrival at the International Space Station (ISS) next week.