The sky isn't empty, but for a while there, it felt like a waiting room. If you’ve been scrolling through news feeds lately, you’ve probably seen the frantic headlines. People keep asking: have the astronauts returned to earth yet? It’s a simple question with a messy, complicated, and honestly kind of frustrating answer involving Boeing, NASA, and a whole lot of helium leaks.
Space is hard. We forget that because SpaceX makes it look like a Tuesday morning commute. But for Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, the veteran pilots who rode Boeing’s Starliner up there, the "eight-day mission" turned into an eight-month marathon.
The Starliner Saga: Why They Didn't Come Home on Time
Let’s get the facts straight. Butch and Suni launched on June 5, 2024. They were supposed to be back by mid-June. They weren't. The Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to be Boeing’s big triumphant moment to compete with Elon Musk, started acting up the moment it got close to the International Space Station (ISS).
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First, there were the helium leaks. Helium is what pushes the fuel into the thrusters. No helium, no steering. Then, the thrusters themselves started failing. NASA engineers spent weeks—honestly, months—running tests at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, trying to figure out why the seals were bulging and blocking propellant flow.
It was a standoff. NASA’s commercial crew manager, Steve Stich, and the rest of the leadership had to make a choice. Do we risk putting these two humans on a ship that might lose its steering during the most violent part of the trip—the atmospheric re-entry? Or do we play it safe?
They chose safety.
On September 6, 2024, the Starliner capsule actually did return. But it was empty. It touched down at White Sands Space Harbor, proving it could make it, but the risk was too high for a crewed flight. So, if you’re asking have the astronauts returned to earth, the answer regarding their original ship is: the ship is back, but the people are still up there.
Life on the ISS: It’s Not a Vacation
Imagine going to the office for a week and being told you’re staying until February. That’s the reality for Butch and Suni. They’ve been integrated into the Expedition 71 and 72 crews.
They aren't just sitting around looking out the window at the blue marble. They’re working. Hard. The ISS is an aging house. It needs constant plumbing fixes, electrical work, and scientific maintenance. Suni, who is now the commander of the station, has been doing everything from managing cargo to overseeing biology experiments.
But there’s a human cost. You miss birthdays. You miss Thanksgiving. You miss the simple feeling of gravity pulling on your bones. They’ve both said in televised press conferences that they "miss their families," but they also talk about how the ISS is their "happy place." It takes a specific kind of mental toughness to handle that shift in plans without cracking.
The SpaceX Rescue Plan
Since the Boeing ship came back empty, NASA had to call in the "rival." This is where it gets a bit awkward for Boeing’s corporate ego.
NASA shifted the crew to a SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Here is how that worked:
- SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon in late September 2024.
- They left two seats empty specifically for Butch and Suni.
- The mission is scheduled to end in February 2025.
So, the timeline for have the astronauts returned to earth is now firmly set for early 2025. They are essentially hitching a ride on the next available bus. It’s the most expensive Uber in history.
The Problem With Modern Spaceflight
We’ve become spoiled. In the 60s, we expected things to explode. Now, we expect perfection. But the Boeing Starliner issues highlight a massive gap in how we build space tech today. Using "off-the-shelf" components and trying to save costs in a fixed-price contract led to a series of cascading failures.
NASA’s internal culture has changed since the Challenger and Columbia disasters. They are much more willing to "fail" a mission by leaving people in orbit than they are to "fail" by losing a crew during landing. This caution is why the answer to have the astronauts returned to earth remains "not yet."
What to Watch for in February 2025
When the Dragon capsule finally undocks, it’s going to be a global event. The re-entry process is intense. The capsule hits the atmosphere at 17,500 miles per hour. Friction turns the air around the craft into plasma, reaching temperatures of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once they splash down, likely off the coast of Florida, the recovery process starts immediately. Butch and Suni will have been in microgravity for over eight months. Their muscles will be weak. Their bones will have lost density. They’ll likely need to be carried out of the capsule on stretchers—not because they’re hurt, but because their bodies literally forgot how to deal with gravity.
Moving Forward: Steps for Space Enthusiasts
If you're following this story, don't just look at the headlines. The nuances of orbital mechanics and NASA's safety protocols tell the real story of human resilience.
- Track the ISS Location: Use the NASA "Spot the Station" app. You can actually see the ISS flying over your house. It’s a bright, fast-moving point of light. Knowing Butch and Suni are on that dot makes the news feel real.
- Watch the NASA Crew-9 Updates: Official briefings are usually dry, but they contain the specific dates for the February undocking.
- Check the Health Data: NASA often publishes "Space Life Sciences" papers after long-duration missions. Following the recovery of these two will provide incredible data on how humans might eventually survive a trip to Mars.
- Demand Accountability: Support transparency in how commercial crew contracts are handled. The Boeing situation has sparked a huge debate in Washington about how we fund space travel.
The return is coming. It’s just taking the long way around.