Get ready to witness the thrilling conclusion of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission! The international crew, comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, are preparing for their journey back to Earth. NASA will provide comprehensive live coverage of their departure from the International Space Station (ISS) and their anticipated splashdown off the coast of California, allowing space enthusiasts worldwide to follow every critical moment.
Countdown to Undocking and Splashdown
The Crew-12 mission is scheduled to undock from the ISS no earlier than Wednesday, October 7th, at 8:05 a.m. EDT. This maneuver marks the beginning of their return voyage aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The crew is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean at approximately 11:34 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 8th. Mission managers are closely monitoring various factors, including spacecraft readiness, recovery team availability, and crucially, weather conditions in the splashdown zone, to ensure a safe and successful return.
How to Watch the Return
NASA is making it easy for everyone to follow along. Live coverage will be available across multiple platforms, allowing global audiences to experience the excitement of the Crew-12’s homecoming. Tune in to witness key events:
- Wednesday, Oct. 7:
- 6:00 a.m. EDT: Hatch closure coverage begins
- 6:20 a.m. EDT: Hatch closing
- 7:45 a.m. EDT: Undocking coverage begins
- 8:05 a.m. EDT: Undocking
- Thursday, Oct. 8:
- 10:20 a.m. EDT: Return coverage begins
- 10:46 a.m. EDT: Deorbit burn
- 11:34 a.m. EDT: Splashdown
Following undocking on Wednesday, NASA will provide audio-only communications between the crew, the space station, and flight controllers during the Dragon’s transit away from orbit.
Post-Mission Briefing and Further Information
After the splashdown, a post-mission briefing will be held at 1:15 p.m. EDT on Thursday, October 8th. This session will cover the Crew-12 return and the upcoming SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services-35 launch. Participants will include key figures from NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program and SpaceX. Media interested in participating in the virtual teleconference should contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 12 p.m. EDT on October 8th. For more details on the Crew-12 mission, visit the official NASA website.
Source: NASA
