When astronauts return from a prolonged visit to space, they are often carried out of their capsules and placed on stretchers for a medical examination. The 'stranded' astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be no exception.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore originally planned to stay just a week on the space station, but problems with their Boeing vehicle forced them to remain there.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were barely known outside space circles when they strapped in for what was supposed to be a quick test flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule last June. Nine months later,