The term “Dragon splashdown” refers to the controlled landing of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft after completing missions to and from space. These splashdowns typically occur in designated ocean areas, such as off the coast of Florida or in the Gulf of Mexico, and are integral to the spacecraft’s return to Earth.
On March 18, 2025, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, along with astronaut Nicholas Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, safely returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule named “Freedom.” After undocking from the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:05 a.m. EDT, the crew underwent a 17-hour journey, culminating in a splashdown off the coast of Florida at 5:57 p.m. EDT.
Their return was notably prolonged due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner capsule, which had been intended for their return journey. These issues led to an extended stay aboard the ISS, sparking political debates and public attention.
Upon splashdown, the crew experienced an unexpected welcome as a pod of dolphins surrounded the capsule during recovery operations, providing a playful and unique oceanic greeting.
For a visual account of the Crew-9 mission’s return, you can watch NASA’s coverage of the Dragon Freedom’s re-entry and splashdown: