Sunita Williams returns safely as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon completes splashdown

Sunita Williams returns safely as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon completes splashdown

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon Freedom capsule splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 3:27 AM IST on March 19, 2025, after a 9-month ISS mission. Astronauts are undergoing medical evaluations post-landing.

The NASA SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon Freedom capsule has successfully splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida at 3:27 AM IST on March 19, 2025, marking the safe return of four astronauts after spending over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The crew—NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov—began their return journey with a deorbit burn at 2:41 AM IST, which slowed the spacecraft for re-entry. As expected, the capsule experienced a brief communication blackout at 3:14 AM IST due to intense atmospheric heating before safely deploying parachutes for a controlled descent.

After splashdown, recovery teams secured the capsule, and the astronauts are now being escorted via helicopter for immediate medical evaluations. This assessment is crucial to monitor how their bodies are readjusting to Earth’s gravity after an extended stay in microgravity.

NASA and SpaceX officials are set to provide further mission details in a post-landing press briefing at 5:00 AM IST.