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After months of groundbreaking research, exploration, and teamwork aboard the International Space Station, NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-9 has returned to Earth.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down safely on March 18, 2025, as a pod of dolphins circled the Dragon spacecraft near Tallahassee, Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Williams and Wilmore made history as the first humans to fly aboard Boeing\u2019s Starliner spacecraft during NASA\u2019s Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT). Launched June 5, 2024, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the CFT mission was Boeing\u2019s first crewed flight.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hague and Gorbunov launched to the space station on Sept. 28, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During their long-duration mission, the American crew members conducted more than 150 unique experiments and logged over 900 hours of research aboard the orbiting laboratory.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their work included studying plant growth and development, testing stem cell technology for patient care on Earth, and examining how spaceflight affects materials\u2014insights vital for future deep space missions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crew kicked off 2025 with two spacewalks that included removing an antenna assembly from the station\u2019s truss, collecting microbial samples from the orbital outpost\u2019s exterior for analysis by Johnson\u2019s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science division, installing patches to cover damaged areas of light filters on an X-ray telescope, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Williams now holds the record for the most cumulative spacewalking time by a woman \u2014 62 hours and 6 minutes \u2014 placing her fourth among the most experienced spacewalkers in history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While in orbit, the crew also engaged the next generation through 30 ham radio events with students around the world and supported a student-led genetic experiment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As part of the CFT, Williams and Wilmore commanded Starliner during in-flight testing and were the first to see the spacecraft integrated in simulations and operate it hands-on in space, evaluating systems like maneuvering, docking, and emergency protocols.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve learned a lot about systems integrated testing that will pay benefits going forward and lay the groundwork for future missions,\u201d said Wilmore.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following the test flight, NASA and Boeing are continuing work toward crew certification of the company\u2019s CST-100 Starliner system. Joint teams are addressing in-flight anomalies and preparing for propulsion system testing ahead of the next mission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the unexpected challenges, including technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft that extended their mission, both Wilmore and Williams said they would do it all over again. Wilmore emphasized his gratitude in being part of testing Starliner\u2019s capabilities, stating, \u201cI\u2019d get on it in a heartbeat.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
After returning to Earth, the crew received a warm welcome from family, colleagues, and fellow astronauts at Johnson Space Center\u2019s Ellington Field. They were greeted by Johnson Acting Director Steve Koerner, who applauded their dedication and resilience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Williams shared a heartfelt embrace with astronaut Zena Cardman, thanking her for \u201ctaking one for the team.\u201d Cardman had originally been assigned to Crew-9, but in August, NASA announced the uncrewed return of Starliner to Earth and integrated Wilmore and Williams into Expedition 71\/72 for a return on Crew-9. This adjustment meant Cardman and astronaut Stephanie Wilson would no longer fly the mission\u2014a decision that underscored the flexibility and teamwork essential to human spaceflight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cardman is now assigned as commander of NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, set to launch in the coming months to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Williams and Wilmore each brought decades of experience to the mission. Wilmore, a retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran fighter pilot, has logged 464 days in space over three flights. Outside of NASA, he serves as a pastor, leads Bible studies, and participates in mission trips across Central and South America. A skilled craftsman, he also builds furniture and other pieces for his local church.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Growing up in Tennessee, Wilmore says his faith continues to guide him, especially when navigating the uncertainties of flight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wilmore encourages the next generation with a call to action: \u201cStrap on your work hat and let\u2019s go at it!\u201d He emphasizes that tenacity and perseverance are essential for achieving anything of value. Motivated by a sense of patriotic duty and a desire to help those in need, Wilmore sees his astronaut role as a commitment to both his country and humanity at large.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wilmore believes he\u2019s challenged every day at NASA. \u201cDoing the right things for the right reasons is what motivates me,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
A retired U.S. Navy captain and veteran of three spaceflights, Williams is a helicopter pilot, basic diving officer, and the first person to run the Boston Marathon in space\u2014once in 2007, and again aboard the station in 2025. Originally from Needham, Massachusetts, she brings a lifelong spirit of adventure and service to everything she does.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no limits,\u201d said Williams. \u201cYour imagination can make something happen, but it\u2019s not always easy. There are so many cool things we can invent to solve problems\u2014and that\u2019s one of the joys of working in the space program. It makes you ask questions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hague, a Kansas native, has logged a total of 374 days in space across three missions. A U.S. Space Force colonel and test pilot, he\u2019s served in roles across the country and abroad, including a deployment to Iraq.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we\u2019re up there operating in space, it\u2019s focused strictly on mission,\u201d said Hague. \u201cWe are part of an international team that spans the globe and works with half a dozen mission control centers that are talking in multiple languages \u2014 and we figure out how to make it happen. That\u2019s the magic of human spaceflight: it brings people together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Williams, Wilmore, Hague, Gorbunov, and the team supporting them, Crew-9 marks the beginning of a new era of space exploration \u2014 one driven by innovation, perseverance, and the unyielding dream of reaching beyond the stars.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n