The return of NASA and SpaceX ‘s Crew-9 mission is a significant milestone, following the successful international cooperation in space exploration. After several months of research and experiments aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ), the astronauts and cosmonauts involved in the mission are preparing for their return to Earth .
The Return of the Crew-9 Mission: The International Team
The Crew-9 mission is made up of NASA astronauts and a cosmonaut from Roscosmos , the Russian space agency. The NASA astronauts include Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, all of whom have conducted a variety of scientific investigations on the ISS . Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov also played a key role in this mission, working closely with the American astronauts on a variety of space studies.
This return marks the end of a laborious and successful space mission, highlighting the ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX , a collaboration that has enabled the transportation of astronauts via the Dragon capsule . This mission is notable for its scientific importance, as well as for its contribution to consolidating SpaceX’s capabilities in human spaceflight.
The return of the stranded astronauts began with the unsealing of the Dragon capsule, with live coverage available via NASA+ beginning at 10:45 p.m. EDT on March 17, 2025. The process included several critical phases, from the capsule’s liftoff to its controlled descent into the Atlantic Ocean. Weather conditions were a key factor in determining the time and location of the landing, with an early return window expected due to good weather on March 18.
Coverage of the return to Earth was streamed live, with ongoing information provided on various platforms, including social media and NASA+. The event culminated with a press conference at 7:30 p.m., where representatives from NASA , SpaceX , and Roscosmos discussed details of the return and key findings from the mission.
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Source and photo: NASA
