Recovery team approaches Dragon capsule after successful splashdown with NASA astronauts

NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission reached a significant milestone today as the Dragon spacecraft successfully entered a stable configuration following its splashdown in the ocean. The spacecraft, carrying NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Sunny Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbanov, is currently being monitored as recovery teams prepare for extraction.

The Dragon capsule, which showcased its thermal protection system during reentry, is now in what is termed "stable 1" configuration—an ideal state for recovery operations. This configuration ensures the capsule is upright and ready to be hoisted onto the recovery vessel, named Megan, which is en route to the site.

Recovery teams are utilizing fast boats to retrieve parachutes from the ocean surface while conducting safety checks around the spacecraft. These checks are crucial, as they involve detecting any toxic hypergolic vapors that may remain from the spacecraft's thrusters. The safety of the recovery personnel is a top priority, and initial assessments are being conducted to ensure a secure approach.

As the recovery operation unfolds, the team is poised to safely extract the astronauts from the Dragon capsule, marking another successful chapter in NASA's collaboration with SpaceX. The anticipated recovery is expected to take about 30 minutes, with personnel already on site to facilitate the process.