NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 has successfully completed its mission, marking the ninth commercial crew rotation to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, landed safely in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 p.m. EDT.
Following their splashdown, SpaceX recovery teams retrieved the Dragon spacecraft and assisted the crew in returning to shore. From there, they will travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they will reunite with their families and begin post-mission evaluations.
A Mission of Scientific Discovery and Innovation
NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro praised the mission’s success, highlighting the crew’s dedication to scientific research and technological advancements in space.
“We are thrilled to have Suni, Butch, Nick, and Aleksandr home after their months-long mission conducting vital science, technology demonstrations, and maintenance aboard the International Space Station,” Petro stated. “Through preparation, ingenuity, and dedication, we continue to push the boundaries of human exploration from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.”
Journey to and from the ISS
Hague and Gorbunov launched on September 28, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, docking at the ISS the following day. Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore reached the station via Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 6, 2024. Following an uncrewed return of Starliner, NASA reassigned Williams and Wilmore to Expedition 71/72 for their return on Crew-9.
On March 18, the Crew-9 team undocked from the ISS at 1:05 a.m. EDT and commenced their journey back to Earth.
Mission Highlights and Achievements
During their time in space, the crew conducted more than 150 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, accumulating over 900 hours of research. Their investigations focused on plant growth, stem cell technology for treating blood diseases and cancers, and studies on astronaut circadian rhythms.
Williams and Wilmore, who spent 286 days in space, completed 4,576 orbits around Earth, traveling a total of 121,347,491 miles. Hague and Gorbunov spent 171 days in space, completing 2,736 orbits and covering 72,553,920 miles.
Williams set a new record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut, with 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the ISS. She participated in two spacewalks, one with Wilmore and another with Hague, performing essential maintenance, including the removal of a radio frequency antenna and repairs to an X-ray telescope.
SpaceX Dragon Freedom’s Fourth Flight
The Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, previously supported NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3. Following this mission, it will undergo inspections and refurbishment at SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral facility in preparation for future flights.
Crew-9’s return paves the way for continued advancements in human spaceflight. Just days before their arrival, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 launched and docked at the ISS on March 16, beginning the next chapter of space research and exploration.
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program continues to focus on developing safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation for astronauts to and from the ISS. These missions provide essential opportunities for scientific discovery, laying the foundation for future deep-space exploration, including NASA’s Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond.
Picture Credit: NASA official website
Sunita L. Williams, a veteran NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain, has completed three space missions, logging 608 days in space. She holds the record for the most spacewalking time by a female astronaut, totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes. Williams recently returned from the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission in March 2025. Her contributions to space exploration continue to inspire future generations.
