SpaceX and NASA planned Dragon’s autonomous undocking from the ISS

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 1:05 a.m. ET, SpaceX and NASA planned the autonomous undocking of the Dragon spacecraft from the International Space Station (ISS), carrying Crew-9 members NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Following separation, Dragon executed multiple departure burns to ensure a safe distance from the ISS, which orbits approximately 260 miles above Earth. Subsequently, the spacecraft performed orbit-lowering maneuvers, jettisoned its trunk a disposable component carrying unpressurized cargo and initiated re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.

The splashdown, scheduled for around 5:57 p.m. ET off the coast of Florida, concluded a nearly 17-hour journey, with recovery teams ready to retrieve the crew from designated zones in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic, depending on weather conditions.

The mission’s background is compelling. Hague and Gorbunov launched to the ISS on September 28, 2024, aboard Dragon from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, docking the following day to begin a planned five-month stay.

In contrast, Williams and Wilmore arrived on June 5, 2024, via Boeing’s Starliner for its inaugural crewed test flight. Initially an eight-day mission, their stay extended due to Starliner’s technical issues helium leaks and thruster failures forcing NASA to return it uncrewed in September 2024.

Integrated into Crew-9, Williams and Wilmore spent 287 days aboard, contributing alongside Hague and Gorbunov to over 900 hours of scientific research, including studies on micro-algae for oxygen production and observations of Earth’s evolving landscapes.

The return was broadcast live, starting at 12:50 a.m. ET for undocking and resuming at 4:57 p.m. ET for splashdown, viewable on SpaceX’s website, X at @SpaceX, and the new X TV app. Weather played a critical role; mission managers monitored splashdown site conditions, as past missions faced delays from storms or rough seas. The Crew-9 handover to Crew-10, which docked on March 16, ensured uninterrupted ISS staffing a priority for NASA and partners like Roscosmos.