Crew-9 Returns: Wilmore, Williams, Hague, and Gorbunov Conclude Extended ISS Mission Aboard SpaceX Dragon

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, along with Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, are set to return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, concluding their extended mission on the International Space Station (ISS). The Crew-9 mission undocked from the ISS on Tuesday, March 18, at 1:05 a.m. ET, with splashdown expected approximately 17 hours later off the coast of Florida. Wilmore and Williams' stay was prolonged due to issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, their initial transport, leading to a 286-day mission. Their return was facilitated by the successful launch of Crew-10, ensuring continuous staffing of the US-controlled portion of the ISS. The Crew Dragon capsule will execute a series of maneuvers, including a de-orbit burn and parachute deployment, to safely decelerate from orbital speeds for ocean landing. Medical teams will evaluate the crew's health post-splashdown, and NASA crew members will return to Johnson Space Center in Houston.