NASA Astronauts Back Home: What's Next for Crew-9 After Successful Splashdown

NASA astronauts — Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, alongside Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov successfully splashed down onboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, Freedom, at 5:57 pm EDT (3:27 am IST), marking the end of their nine-month-long stay at the International Space Station. The splashdown, which was greeted by playful dolphins in the Gulf of America, off the coast of Tallahassee in Florida, followed an hour-long descent watched by millions anticipating the return of astronauts. Now that the capsule has touched the earth's surface, what lies ahead for the Dragon and the Crew-9 members?

According to NASA's public affairs specialist Jaden Jennings, a recovery ship parked in the area surrounding the splashdown site secured the Dragon capsule with the help of two fast boats. This helps ensure the spacecraft is safe for recovery. After the fast boats finish the evaluation, the recovery ship moves into a position to hoist Dragon onto the main deck with the Crew-9 members onboard. Once an additional assessment is complete — which includes washing the capsule with fresh water, the crew will begin to exit the spacecraft through the gate.

– Medical checkup: As part of the routine, the Crew-9 members will be escorted to a secure bay where they will undergo medical checks — blood draws, ECGs, and mobility tests. The impact of microgravity, such as bone loss, muscle atrophy, and radiation exposure, will also be assessed. It is essential to determine the changes in the bodies of astronauts after they have experienced vestibular changes due to the introduction of gravity and its pull.

– Flying again: After their nine-month-long stay in space and a gruelling 17-hour journey back to Earth, the Crew-9 members will take a helicopter ride to board a plane for NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.

– Preparing for the briefing: After the astronauts have reconnected with their team members, NASA officials, and SpaceX officials who have been on the Earth, astronauts will prepare for a short debrief. This is when Williams, Wilmore, and Gorbunov will talk about their experience during the extended stay, triggered by the failure of Boeing's Starliner last year.

– Rehab: Astronauts will be sent to a weeks-long rehab programme, where they will undergo physical therapy, take up nutrition plans, and receive psychological support to acclimatise to how they used to live on the Earth about nine months ago.

For Williams, Wilmore, and Gurbonov, SpaceX's Dragon played a crucial role in the sage of their nine-month odyssey in space.

Read more: The ISS Wonder: How Station’s Life-Support Systems Let Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Survive 9 Months