In an exciting development for space enthusiasts and the scientific community alike, NASA is set to provide comprehensive live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9’s return from the International Space Station (ISS). The live stream will kick off with the preparation for the Dragon spacecraft hatch closure at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17, 2025.

NASA and SpaceX held discussions on Sunday to evaluate the weather and splashdown conditions near Florida’s coast, assessing the potential for an earlier return due to favorable forecasts anticipated for Tuesday evening, March 18. This strategic decision ensures that the Crew-9 astronauts have ample time to wrap up their crucial handover duties aboard the ISS while also offering flexibility given that less favorable weather has been projected later in the week.

The Crew-9 mission features an impressive lineup of astronauts, including NASA's Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. They have been conducting a long-duration scientific expedition on the orbiting laboratory, and their return is pivotal for delivering time-sensitive research back to Earth.

As the mission progresses, NASA and SpaceX will keep a close watch on weather conditions, as the successful undocking of the Dragon spacecraft will depend on several variables, including the spacecraft’s readiness and oceanic conditions. The designated splashdown location will be confirmed as the event approaches.

Space enthusiasts can follow the Crew-9 return activities through NASA+, along with a suite of other platforms and social media outlets. Here’s the updated schedule for the Crew-9 mission coverage (all times in Eastern, subject to real-time modifications):

Monday, March 17

10:45 p.m. – Hatch closure coverage begins on NASA+

Tuesday, March 18

12:45 a.m. – Undocking coverage starts 1:05 a.m. – Undocking occurs

After the undocking segment concludes, NASA will transition to audio coverage until the return process progresses.

Pending favorable weather conditions at the splashdown sites, continuous coverage will resume on March 18, preparing for the deorbit burn: 4:45 p.m. – Coverage resumes on NASA+ 5:11 p.m. – Approximate time for deorbit burn 5:57 p.m. – Approximate time for splashdown 7:30 p.m. – Return-to-Earth media conference featuring key participants from NASA and SpaceX, including Joel Montalbano from NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, and Sarah Walker from SpaceX.

Media outlets interested in on-site attendance at NASA's Johnson Space Center must make arrangements prior to the specified deadlines. For those eager to join via phone, they can reach out for participation details on the event day.

To catch all the action from the Crew-9 mission and access further mission details, visit NASA’s dedicated online resources and follow their commercial crew blog.

Witness the thrilling return of Crew-9 as they bring home groundbreaking experiments and experiences from the final frontier! Don't miss this historic moment in space exploration!