At 1:05 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 18, NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, departed the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft after undocking from the Harmony module.

NASA will broadcast live coverage of Crew-9’s return starting at 4:45 p.m. EDT on NASA+, tracking the spacecraft’s journey back to Earth. Dragon is expected to splash down off the Florida coast at approximately 5:57 p.m., where recovery teams will be on standby to ensure the crew's safe return.

Figure 1. SpaceX Dragon.

NASA Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch

On June 5, 2024, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. This mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, marked the first crewed test flight of the Starliner, advancing efforts to establish reliable astronaut transport to the ISS. Figure 1 shows spacex dragon.

NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, embarked on a remarkable journey to the ISS, arriving on two separate spacecraft. Williams and Wilmore made history as the first astronauts to fly Boeing’s Starliner on a crewed test flight, launching atop a ULA Atlas V rocket. Their mission played a crucial role in verifying Starliner’s capabilities for future astronaut missions. A few months later, Hague and Gorbunov arrived aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom, temporarily expanding the station's population to 11 as part of Expedition 72.

During their mission aboard the ISS, the Crew-9 astronauts conducted extensive scientific research, station maintenance, and operational training. As ISS commander, Williams led vital studies on human health in space, while Wilmore, Hague, and Gorbunov contributed to technology demonstrations and experiments supporting future lunar and Mars missions. They also played key roles in maintaining the station’s systems, ensuring its functionality for long-duration spaceflight. Their work underscored the growing significance of international partnerships and commercial spacecraft in human space exploration.

As their mission neared its conclusion, the astronauts prepared for their return aboard the Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft. They completed suit and seat fit tests, conducted communication checks, and verified Dragon’s readiness for departure. On March 18, 2025, at 1:05 a.m. EDT, Crew-9 officially began their journey back to Earth after undocking from the Harmony module. Their departure marked the culmination of months of groundbreaking research, global collaboration, and advancements in space exploration.

Source: NASA

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025),SpaceX Dragon Departs with NASA Crew-9 Astronauts for Return to Earth , AnaTechMaz,pp.254