NASA’s Crew-9 Prepares for Splashdown: A Nine-Month Journey Ends

BREVARD COUNTY, Florida — NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, along with fellow Crew-9 members, are set to return to Earth after a nearly nine-month expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The team is scheduled to close the hatch on their SpaceX Dragon capsule, Freedom, at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17, before undocking at 1:05 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 18.

This unprecedented mission was originally planned as an eight-day test flight of Boeing’s Starliner capsule but turned into a prolonged stay after various technical issues prolonged their time aboard the space station. After experiencing multiple failures during the Starliner’s maiden flight attempts, including a helium leak and propulsion system failures, Wilmore and Williams were unable to return on schedule.

“Our time aboard the ISS has been incredible, filled with critical research and unforgettable experiences,” said Wilmore, reflecting on their extended mission. As part of Crew-9, they conducted important scientific experiments aimed at advancing human understanding of life in space.

NASA’s mission managers, assessing weather conditions and splashdown sites off Florida, optimistically identified Tuesday as the target for their water landing. Weather permitting, the capsule is expected to splash down at approximately 5:57 p.m. EDT, following a rapid descent deceleration process that takes the vehicle from orbital speeds to a gentle landing.

The duo, along with fellow crew members Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will hand over operations before their expected splashdown. “Every moment up here has been an exciting adventure, and we are eager to return home,” said Williams. After their mission, Wilmore and Williams will have logged around 286 days in space.

As the Dragon capsule prepares for undocking, it remains fully autonomous, though the crew can take manual control if necessary. Many eyes will be on the capsule as it returns, with the potential for a sonic boom to be heard by those fortunate enough to be in the vicinity at impact.

NASA will provide live coverage of the Crew-9 return mission, starting with hatch closure on March 17 and continuing through splashdown on March 18 across various platforms, including NASA’s official website and social media. Timely updates on the mission can also be followed from the agency’s various accounts.

This event marks not only the end of Crew-9’s lengthy expedition but also the successful continuation of NASA’s commercial crew program, designed to enhance the United States’ spaceflight capabilities.