Crew Dragon Mission: Return to Earth After ISS Visit
The Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying the Crew-5 team departed the International Space Station on March 11, beginning its journey back to Earth. The announcement came from NASA, confirming the deorbit and return sequence for the crew and spacecraft.
The initial plan called for the rollback from the ISS on March 9, but weather and other conditions led to a pair of delays before splashdown could proceed. The extended timeline reflected the decision to prioritize safe and controlled operations as the vehicle re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.
Descent was planned to culminate with a splashdown off the coast near Tampa, Florida, around 21:02 Eastern Time on March 12, with Moscow time corresponding to early March 13. The returning crew included a Japanese astronaut from JAXA, Anna Kikina, along with NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada. At the same time, several cosmonauts and astronauts remained aboard the station to continue ongoing research and maintenance activities. Roscosmos and its partners supported the mission as the crew’s safe return remained a priority for the international team.
Earlier updates noted the arrival and docking of the Crew Dragon to the ISS in automated mode, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration aboard the station. The docking event occurred at 00:01 Moscow time, underscoring the precision and coordination required for complex space operations. The continued presence of crew members from multiple space agencies highlighted the ongoing commitment to research, exploration, and mutual assistance in space missions.
As operations returned to Earth, NASA and its international partners prepared for the post-landing procedures, including recovery teams ready to assist with any needed health checks, vehicle diagnostics, and data collection. The Crew-5 team’s mission contributed valuable insights into life support systems, autonomous docking, and cross-agency teamwork that will inform future expeditions and commercial partnerships in space exploration. The collaboration demonstrated how agencies work together to maintain a persistent human presence in low Earth orbit and to support scientific investigations that benefit people on Earth. [NASA attribution]