Rebecca Kesby

After more than nine months in space, a fond farewell, as Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams' mission finally comes to a close. Inside their SpaceX capsule, final preparations are underway for Butch and Sonny and two other crewmates who are sharing the ride home.

Butch and Sonny's mission began last June. Three, two, one, ignition.

Butch and Sonny's mission began last June. Three, two, one, ignition.

But the spacecraft they were travelling on, made by Boeing, suffered technical problems and it was deemed too risky to bring them back to Earth. It meant their eight-day mission was dramatically extended.

But the spacecraft they were travelling on, made by Boeing, suffered technical problems and it was deemed too risky to bring them back to Earth. It meant their eight-day mission was dramatically extended.

The NASA pair have made the most of their stay, carrying out an array of experiments and going on a spacewalk, with Sunny breaking the record for the most hours spent outside of the space station. And there was even a chance to celebrate Christmas that they'd planned to have at home. So from all of us to all of you,

The NASA pair have made the most of their stay, carrying out an array of experiments and going on a spacewalk, with Sunny breaking the record for the most hours spent outside of the space station. And there was even a chance to celebrate Christmas that they'd planned to have at home. So from all of us to all of you,

With a blast of the engines, the astronauts are on their way, hoping for a smooth ride and a gentle splashdown off the coast of Florida.

With a blast of the engines, the astronauts are on their way, hoping for a smooth ride and a gentle splashdown off the coast of Florida.

So you using the word flip, I wonder if you could just explain what that actually means. And from what you're saying, then, is President Trump likely to be exposed? And why has his team allowed him to be in that position?

So you using the word flip, I wonder if you could just explain what that actually means. And from what you're saying, then, is President Trump likely to be exposed? And why has his team allowed him to be in that position?

But doesn't Moscow owe Mr. Trump something? Because he has taken a lot of flack for speaking to Putin in the first place, something that Joe Biden never did directly. And, you know, Mr. Trump's been accused of giving away too many concessions of appeasement almost. He's really sort of gone out to try and extend the hand to Moscow, potentially, you know, risk to his own political reputation.

But doesn't Moscow owe Mr. Trump something? Because he has taken a lot of flack for speaking to Putin in the first place, something that Joe Biden never did directly. And, you know, Mr. Trump's been accused of giving away too many concessions of appeasement almost. He's really sort of gone out to try and extend the hand to Moscow, potentially, you know, risk to his own political reputation.

After the spacecraft docked, the hatch opened and the four new astronauts floated on board the International Space Station. The arrival of this replacement crew marks the beginning of the end for Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams' extended mission. The NASA astronauts have been on the space station since June and were only supposed to stay for just over a week.

After the spacecraft docked, the hatch opened and the four new astronauts floated on board the International Space Station. The arrival of this replacement crew marks the beginning of the end for Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams' extended mission. The NASA astronauts have been on the space station since June and were only supposed to stay for just over a week.

But the spacecraft they arrived on, made by aerospace company Boeing, suffered technical problems. so NASA had to find another way to get the astronauts home. They opted for the next scheduled SpaceX flight, extending Butch and Sonny's mission until now. The pair will now spend the next few days handing over to the new crew before they can finally begin their journey back.

But the spacecraft they arrived on, made by aerospace company Boeing, suffered technical problems. so NASA had to find another way to get the astronauts home. They opted for the next scheduled SpaceX flight, extending Butch and Sonny's mission until now. The pair will now spend the next few days handing over to the new crew before they can finally begin their journey back.

It has been a bit of a saga, but it's not that unusual for rockets to be delayed. And it wasn't actually a problem with the rockets. It was a problem with the ground-based system that launches the rockets. So the launch was delayed. The NASA officials took the decision to do that. And it now looks like it's probably going to be rescheduled.

It has been a bit of a saga, but it's not that unusual for rockets to be delayed. And it wasn't actually a problem with the rockets. It was a problem with the ground-based system that launches the rockets. So the launch was delayed. The NASA officials took the decision to do that. And it now looks like it's probably going to be rescheduled.

friday and late in the evening uk time when it goes up but as you say butch and sunny you know they were supposed to be on there for just over a week and they've been there for more than nine months already but actually a few more days isn't going to make much difference and once the rocket why it's important it's actually carrying the replacement crew for butch and sunny so when the astronauts the four astronauts who are going to eventually go up when they finally do arrive there'll be a brief handover and then