NASA to broadcast SpaceX crew-9 return after Starliner mission delay

NASA will provide live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission’s return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), beginning with hatch closure preparations at 10:45 p.m. ET (7:45 a.m. PST) on Monday, March 17.

Crew-9 return timeline and weather assessments

NASA and SpaceX mission managers met on Sunday to review weather and splashdown conditions off the Florida coast. Following favorable forecasts, they have moved up the Crew-9 return to Tuesday evening, March 18. This decision allows ISS crew members to complete their handover duties while avoiding less favorable weather later in the week.

Aboard the Dragon capsule are NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. They are completing a long-duration science expedition and will bring back time-sensitive research to Earth.

Mission managers will continue monitoring conditions, as the capsule’s undocking and splashdown depend on various factors, including spacecraft readiness, recovery team preparations, and weather conditions at the designated landing sites. The exact splashdown location will be confirmed closer to re-entry.