NASA is set to provide live coverage of the highly anticipated SpaceX Crew-9 return from the International Space Station (ISS). This coverage will commence with the preparations for the Dragon spacecraft hatch closure at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17. The collaboration between NASA and SpaceX has been crucial in assessing the weather and splashdown conditions off the coast of Florida for the Crew-9 mission.
Mission managers are now targeting an earlier return opportunity for Crew-9, due to favorable weather forecasts anticipated for the evening of Tuesday, March 18. This updated return timeline allows the space station crew members ample time to complete necessary handover duties while also providing operational flexibility ahead of less favorable weather expected later in the week.
The Crew-9 mission includes notable NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. These astronauts have been engaged in a long-duration science expedition aboard the ISS, and they are set to return essential time-sensitive research back to Earth.
As the Crew-9 return approaches, mission managers will continue to monitor the weather conditions in the splashdown area. The undocking of the Dragon spacecraft will depend on several factors, including spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, and sea states. NASA and SpaceX will confirm the specific splashdown location as the date draws closer.
Space enthusiasts and the public can watch the Crew-9 return activities live on NASA+. For more information on how to access NASA content through various platforms, including social media channels, visit NASA's official live stream page.
The live operations coverage for the Crew-9 return is as follows (all times are in Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):
Monday, March 17 10:45 p.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins on NASA+ Tuesday, March 18 12:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins on NASA+ 1:05 a.m. – Undocking occurs 4:45 p.m. – Return coverage begins on NASA+ 5:11 p.m. – Deorbit burn (time is approximate) 5:57 p.m. – Splashdown (time is approximate) 7:30 p.m. – Return-to-Earth media conference on NASA+To participate in the media briefing scheduled for 7:30 p.m., media representatives must contact the NASA Johnson Space Center newsroom in Houston by 5 p.m. on March 17 at jsccommu@mail.nasa.gov or call 281-483-5111. Media must dial in no later than 10 minutes before the call starts. Additional information regarding NASA’s media credentialing policy can be found online.
For comprehensive mission coverage, updates, and access to NASA’s commercial crew blog, visit NASA's Commercial Crew page. This mission represents another significant achievement in space exploration, showcasing the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX.
For inquiries, please contact:
Joshua Finch / Jimi Russell, Headquarters, Washington, 202-358-1100, joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov / james.j.russell@nasa.gov Kenna Pell / Sandra Jones, Johnson Space Center, Houston, 281-483-5111, kenna.m.pell@nasa.gov / sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov