NASA, SpaceX's Crew-9 splashed down off Florida coast: Watch live
GULF COAST, Fla. - Update: NASA and SpaceX's Crew-9 successfully splashed down off the Florida gulf Tuesday afternoon, a big welcome home to NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Original story:
After nine months in space aboard the International Space Station, NASA's and Space's Crew-9 mission will literally splash down back on Earth Tuesday evening, off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of America.
There are four astronauts aboard SpaceX's Dragon's spacecraft, including NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who went to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner last June. Their roughly week-long mission turned into a 9-month mission after Starliner experienced various issues and was ultimately brought back to Earth uncrewed.
Watch Crew-9 splashdown off Florida coast live
Crew-9 is expected to splash down off the coast of Florida, near Tallahassee, around 5:57 p.m. You can watch NASA's coverage of the splashdown live in the player above.
When does Crew-9 return to Earth? Where will they splash down?
Timeline:
- 11:05 p.m. Monday: Hatch closed between SpaceX's Dragon and International Space Station
- 1:05 a.m. Tuesday: SpaceX's Dragon capsule officially undocks from the International Space Station. It's roughly a 17-hour flight back to Earth, SpaceX said.
- 4:45 p.m. Tuesday: NASA coverage begins
- 5:57 p.m. Tuesday: Dragon is expected to splashdown off the coast of Florida, near Tallahassee.
Stranded NASA astronauts to return to Earth
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024, are preparing to return home with Crew-9 after spending an unexpected, nine-month stay in space.
Will I be able to see Crew-9 splashdown in Florida?
To see Crew-9 splashdown off the coast of Florida, you'll likely have to be right on the coastline, according to FOX 35's Noah Bergren. Skies will be generally clear, but due to the positioning of the sun at the time of splashdown, it's going to be tough to see the Dragon spacecraft and its parachutes.
No worries, you can watch the splashdown live in the video player above.
Meet the Crew-9 astronauts
Crew-9's mission consisted of four astronauts: NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
Williams and Wilmore were part of Boeing's successful, but flawed, Starliner mission to the ISS. What was to be a week-long visit, turned into a nearly 9-month stay aboard the ISS. The launch took place on June 5, 2024, and the crew arrived at the ISS the day after.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the vestibule between the International Space Station and the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Clockwise from left, are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Suni Williams, and R
The two NASA astronauts were supposed to be aboard the Space Station for about eight days, Boeing said. That ultimately turned into nine months.
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth without its crew due to safety concerns in September 2024. Now, Williams and Wilmore will finally return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft.
Starliner astronauts heading back to Earth
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024, are preparing to return home with Crew-9 after spending an unexpected, nine-month stay in space.
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The Source: This story was written based on information gathered from previous reporting, as well as information shared by NASA, SpaceX and Boeing in mission updates shared on websites and social media.