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What happens when astronauts get stuck in space

The two Nasa astronauts overstaying on the ISS aren't the first to be stuck in space… and they probably won't be the last.

We've all been there…stuck for hours on a broken-down train, abandoned in an airport because of a software update or – my most memorable – stranded in the Falkland Islands after an aircraft engine on an ageing air force transport plane caught fire. Williams and Wilmore are two of Nasa's most experienced astronauts and mission planners have been working to make the best of the situation, integrating them into the daily schedule and using their expertise in testing Starliner. As well as conducting scientific experiments, the astronauts' familiarity with the station and its inner workings means they have been quickly deployed on household tasks, such as organising cargo, sorting food supplies and deep cleaning equipment racks.

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