NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 completed the agency’s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on March 18, 2025. The crew splashed down safely in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, in the Gulf of America. NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth at 5:57 p.m. EDT.
The recovery teams aboard SpaceX vessels quickly retrieved the spacecraft and its crew. Following the recovery, the astronauts were flown back to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to reunite with their families. This marked the successful conclusion of their extended mission aboard the ISS, where they performed a wide range of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations.
NASA’s Praise and Mission Achievements
“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,” said NASA acting Administrator Janet Petro. “Through preparation, ingenuity, and dedication, we achieve great things together for the benefit of humanity, pushing the boundaries of what is possible from low Earth orbit to the Moon and Mars.”
This mission, under the direction of the Trump Administration, was rescheduled to bring the crew back earlier than initially planned. NASA and SpaceX collaborated to meet the accelerated timeline, showcasing their dedication to achieving great feats for humanity.
The Crew’s Journey to the ISS
Hague and Gorbunov launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on September 28, 2024. After successfully docking with the ISS on September 29, they joined the other crew members, Williams and Wilmore, who launched earlier on June 5, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Williams and Wilmore docked with the space station the following day, June 6.
In August, NASA announced the uncrewed return of Starliner and integrated Williams and Wilmore into the ISS Expedition 71/72, preparing them for their return via the Crew-9 mission.
The Crew-9 astronauts spent varying amounts of time in space:
- Williams and Wilmore traveled 121,347,491 miles, spent 286 days in space, and completed 4,576 orbits around Earth.
- Hague and Gorbunov traveled 72,553,920 miles, spent 171 days in space, and completed 2,736 orbits.
Key Spacewalking Achievements by Suni Williams
One of the standout accomplishments of the mission was Suni Williams‘ extraordinary contribution to spacewalking. She conducted two spacewalks during this mission, with Wilmore accompanying her for one and Hague for another. Together, they carried out several important tasks, including:
- Removing a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station’s truss.
- Collecting samples from the station’s external surface for analysis.
- Installing patches to cover damaged areas of light filters on an X-ray telescope.
As a result of these spacewalks, Suni Williams now holds the record for the total spacewalking time by a female astronaut. She has spent an impressive 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the station, placing her fourth on the all-time list of spacewalk durations.
Scientific and Technological Contributions
Throughout the mission, the Crew-9 astronauts contributed significantly to scientific and technological advancements. The team conducted more than 150 unique scientific experiments and demonstrations, accumulating over 900 hours of research. Some of their key contributions included:
- Investigating plant growth and quality to understand how microgravity affects biological systems.
- Exploring stem cell technology’s potential to address blood diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancers.
- Testing innovative lighting systems that help astronauts maintain circadian rhythms.
- Loading the first wooden satellite for deployment from the space station.
- Collecting samples from the ISS’s exterior to study the survival of microorganisms in space.
These research activities are crucial for advancing humanity’s ability to live and work in space for extended periods, as well as supporting future missions to the Moon and Mars.
SpaceX Dragon’s Role in the Mission
The Crew-9 mission marked the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft, which has previously supported other missions, including NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3. The Dragon spacecraft will now return to Florida, where it will undergo inspection and processing at SpaceX’s refurbishing facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The spacecraft will be carefully examined to ensure its readiness for future missions. Teams will analyze data related to its performance, and preparations will begin for its next flight.
The Role of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
The Crew-9 mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which aims to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the space station and low Earth orbit. The program has been instrumental in increasing research opportunities and enabling humanity to conduct valuable experiments aboard the ISS.
Furthermore, it plays a key role in NASA’s preparations for future deep-space missions, including human exploration of the Moon and Mars. The commercial partnerships fostered through the program, including with SpaceX, help NASA meet its objectives while pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
Looking to the Future: SpaceX Crew-10
The successful return of Crew-9 was quickly followed by the SpaceX Crew-10 launch, which docked with the ISS on March 16, 2025. This marks the start of yet another long-duration science expedition aboard the space station.
As NASA continues to expand its exploration efforts, the Commercial Crew Program will remain a cornerstone of its strategy for ensuring reliable transportation and continued scientific discovery in space.