NASA and SpaceX have targeted an earlier return on the evening of Tuesday

NASA will provide live coverage of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission’s return to Earth from the International Space Station, beginning with preparations to close the Dragon spacecraft’s hatch at 10:45 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 17.

After assessing weather conditions off Florida’s coast, NASA and SpaceX have targeted an earlier return on the evening of Tuesday, March 18, allowing the crew time to complete handover duties while offering flexibility ahead of unfavorable weather expected later in the week.

The mission includes NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who are returning with time-sensitive research from their long-duration science expedition.

The Dragon’s undocking depends on factors like weather, spacecraft readiness, and recovery team preparedness, with the exact splashdown location to be confirmed closer to the return.

Live coverage will be available on NASA+, starting with hatch closure on March 17 at 10:45 p.m., followed by undocking, splashdown at approximately 5:57 p.m. on March 18, and a media teleconference at 7:30 p.m. Viewers can watch it on NASA+ and social media platforms.