Sunita Williams and NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 return to Earth; Williams and Wilmore complete 286 days in space
NASA's SpaceX Crew-9, including Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, splashed down off Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 pm EDT on 18 March 2025, which was 3:27 am IST on 19 March 2025.
Summary
NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 returned to Earth when the Dragon spacecraft Freedom splashed down in the Gulf of America off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 pm EDT on 18 March 2025 (21:57 GMT), which was 3:27 am IST on 19 March 2025. On board were NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov; the crew had undocked from the International Space Station at 1:05 am EDT the same day. Williams and Wilmore had launched on 5 June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner on the Crew Flight Test and reached the station on 6 June; after NASA decided to return Starliner uncrewed, they joined Expedition 71/72 and came home on Crew-9. They spent 286 days in space and completed 4,576 orbits, while Hague and Gorbunov spent 171 days. Williams has logged 608 days in space over three flights. It was the fourth flight of Dragon Freedom. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the crew on 19 March.
Key facts
- Splashdown
- 5:57 pm EDT, 18 March 2025 = 3:27 am IST, 19 March 2025
- Place
- Gulf of America, off Tallahassee, Florida
- Spacecraft
- SpaceX Dragon Freedom (its 4th flight)
- Crew
- Nick Hague, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, Aleksandr Gorbunov
- Williams & Wilmore
- 286 days; launched on Boeing Starliner, 5 June 2024
- Hague & Gorbunov
- 171 days
- Williams' career total
- 608 days over three flights
Practice MCQs 5 questions
What was the name of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that brought Sunita Williams and the Crew-9 astronauts back to Earth in March 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Freedom
NASA says the Dragon spacecraft Freedom splashed down off Tallahassee, Florida, returning Crew-9; it was Freedom's fourth flight.
Crew-9 splashed down at 5:57 pm EDT on 18 March 2025. What was this time in Indian Standard Time?
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Correct answer: C — 3:27 am IST, 19 March 2025
NASA's timeline puts splashdown at 21:57 GMT on 18 March; adding 5 hours 30 minutes gives 3:27 am IST on 19 March 2025.
How many days did Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore spend in space on the mission that ended with the Crew-9 splashdown in March 2025?
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Correct answer: C — 286 days
NASA says Williams and Wilmore spent 286 days in space; 171 days was the figure for Hague and Gorbunov, and 608 days is Williams' career total.
Off the coast of which city did NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 splash down on 18 March 2025 (EDT)?
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Correct answer: D — Tallahassee, Florida
Crew-9 splashed down in the Gulf of America off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.
Consider the following statements about the return of Sunita Williams in March 2025: 1. Williams and Butch Wilmore had reached the International Space Station in June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner on its Crew Flight Test. 2. The Crew-9 return was the first flight of the Dragon spacecraft Freedom. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Williams and Wilmore launched on Starliner on 5 June 2024 and reached the station on 6 June. Crew-9 was Freedom's fourth flight; it earlier flew Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2 and Axiom Mission 3.