Fast Facts
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Live Coverage: NASA will begin live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 return preparations at 10:45 p.m. EDT on March 17, with splashdown planned for March 18, weather permitting.
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Mission Managers’ Strategy: Favorable weather conditions have led mission managers to target an earlier return for Crew-9, allowing astronauts to complete essential duties before adverse weather arrives later in the week.
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Crew and Research: NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will return critical research aboard the Dragon spacecraft from their long-duration expedition at the International Space Station.
- Media Briefing: A media conference about the Crew-9 return will occur on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. EDT, featuring key NASA and SpaceX officials, with participation details provided for journalists.
NASA will provide live coverage of the Crew-9 return to Earth from the International Space Station. This exciting event begins at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17. NASA and SpaceX recently held discussions about the weather conditions for splashdown off Florida’s coast. They aim for an earlier return opportunity based on favorable forecasts for Tuesday, March 18.
This mission features NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, alongside Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. These seasoned crew members completed essential science experiments during their long-duration mission. They will bring valuable research back to Earth.
Mission teams will monitor variables such as spacecraft readiness and weather before Dragon’s undocking. Specific splashdown locations will be confirmed as the event approaches. The public can watch Crew-9 activities on NASA+ and learn how to access content through various platforms, including social media.
Here is the schedule for the live coverage (all times in Eastern):
Monday, March 17
- 10:45 p.m. – Hatch closing coverage begins
Tuesday, March 18
- 12:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage begins
- 1:05 a.m. – Undocking
- Following undocking, audio coverage will continue.
- 4:45 p.m. – Return coverage begins
- 5:11 p.m. – Deorbit burn expected (approximate time)
- 5:57 p.m. – Splashdown (approximate time)
- 7:30 p.m. – Media conference on NASA+
During the media briefing, experts will discuss the mission and its results. Journalists must contact the NASA Johnson Space Center newsroom by 5 p.m. on March 17 to participate.
This mission continues to highlight advancements in space technology. Each return to Earth reinforces the collaboration between government agencies and private industry. Such partnerships enable the development of innovative technologies, which enhance our understanding of science.
To follow the Crew-9 mission and access additional resources, visit the NASA website. This mission showcases how space exploration contributes not only to science but also to technological development and the improvement of our daily lives.
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