The Dragon Endeavour spacecraft separated from the station on October 23, 2024, at 5:05 p.m. EDT, marking the beginning of the crew’s return to Earth after more than six months in orbit. The mission is now on track for a scheduled splashdown off the coast of Florida on October 25, concluding a successful long-duration stay in space.

The Journey Home: Crew-8's Delayed Departure

Originally slated to depart in early October, Crew-8's return was postponed multiple times due to the adverse weather conditions brought by Hurricane Milton, which impacted Florida's eastern coastline earlier this month. NASA had to delay the mission’s undocking several times, with officials prioritizing astronaut safety, given that splashdown zones in the Atlantic were deemed hazardous for recovery operations. NASA stated that the delay was necessary due to “poor conditions in the splashdown area during and in the wake of Hurricane Milton,” which made it unsafe for recovery teams to operate in the region.

Despite the setbacks, the Crew-8 astronauts—NASA’s Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin—remained in good spirits. The spacecraft finally undocked while the ISS was orbiting 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean, commencing the final leg of their mission. The crew's safe return is now expected early on October 25, with the splashdown scheduled for approximately 3:30 a.m. EDT off the Florida coast. NASA will provide live coverage of the event, including a post-splashdown news conference later that morning.

Mission Achievements and Life Aboard the ISS

The Crew-8 mission, launched in March 2024, has been part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit. The team conducted a wide array of scientific experiments during their six-month stay aboard the ISS, contributing to studies on microgravity's effects on the human body, the behavior of materials in space, and advancements in technology that could benefit future deep-space missions. Notably, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps conducted important research on radio frequency identification hardware, while Michael Barratt performed experiments using a fluorescence microscope to observe the behavior of particles in microgravity.

Reflecting on the mission, NASA praised the astronauts for their resilience and adaptability, particularly as they dealt with unexpected delays in their return. The Crew-8 astronauts have remained integral to daily ISS operations, performing maintenance tasks and participating in numerous research projects. Matthew Dominick, the mission commander, also led several spacewalks during their tenure on the station, contributing to ongoing upgrades of the ISS’s external systems.

Looking Forward: SpaceX and NASA’s Future Plans

With Crew-8 nearing the end of its journey, attention is turning to the Crew-9 astronauts, who arrived at the ISS on September 29, 2024, aboard another SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. This transition is part of NASA's ongoing long-duration crew rotation program, designed to ensure continuous scientific research and technological advancements aboard the ISS. Crew-9, which includes NASA’s Nick Hague and Roscosmos’ Aleksandr Gorbunov, will remain aboard the station for another six months, conducting experiments similar to those performed by Crew-8.

In the meantime, NASA and SpaceX are preparing for the launch of Crew-10, which is scheduled no earlier than February 25, 2025. This upcoming mission will continue NASA’s human spaceflight efforts, with astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers among those assigned to the crew. NASA’s reliance on SpaceX for crew transportation to the ISS has become increasingly important as the agency plans for ambitious goals, including future missions to the Moon and Mars.

However, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft—another vehicle meant to transport NASA astronauts to the ISS—remains under review following technical issues discovered during its test missions earlier in 2024. NASA had originally planned to use Starliner for some of its upcoming crewed missions, but propulsion problems forced the agency to delay its use. This has left SpaceX as the primary commercial partner for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

The Importance of Crew-8's Mission and Broader Spaceflight Goals

As Crew-8 prepares for splashdown, their successful mission underscores the growing collaboration between NASA and private space companies like SpaceX, which are playing an increasingly vital role in ensuring the success of human space exploration. The mission’s extended duration due to weather delays has demonstrated the resilience and flexibility of both the astronauts and the mission team. As Crew-8 mission commander Matthew Dominick noted during an update, “Spaceflight is complex, and we always need to be prepared for the unexpected.”

The safe return of Crew-8 will mark another milestone in NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which continues to open new frontiers for human space exploration. With Crew-10 on the horizon and the potential for further development of the Boeing Starliner, NASA’s focus remains on ensuring the sustainability of human spaceflight well into the future.

The crew, which includes NASA and Roscosmos astronauts, was initially scheduled to undock and splash down off the Florida coast in early October. However, the mission has been postponed several times, with the latest target set for October 13, 2024, as the storm threatens the Florida peninsula and surrounding waters.

Hurricane Milton Disrupts Crew-8 and Other Space Missions

Hurricane Milton has caused widespread disruptions beyond just the Crew-8 mission. The massive storm has forced both NASA and SpaceX to adjust their plans to ensure safety. Milton, which rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane, is expected to cause significant damage along the west coast of Florida, and its effects are forecast to extend across much of the state. As a result, the launch of the Europa Clipper mission, a major undertaking aimed at studying Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, has also been delayed. Initially slated for a mid-October liftoff, the launch now faces an indefinite postponement until the hurricane passes and conditions at Cape Canaveral stabilize.

SpaceX and NASA are acutely aware of the risks posed by rough seas and strong winds during splashdown operations, especially as recovery teams must be in place to retrieve the astronauts upon their return. The current concern is that Hurricane Milton could leave recovery zones in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico too dangerous for retrieval operations. Milton’s power has already proven to be a significant challenge, having disrupted space-related activities on multiple fronts. NASA continues to monitor the storm closely, with mission managers emphasizing that “safety is always the top priority” in determining the timing for Crew-8’s return.

NASA explained the decision in a recent update, stating, "NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 3:05 a.m. EDT Sunday, Oct. 13, for the undocking of the Crew-8 mission from the International Space Station due to weather conditions and potential impacts from Hurricane Milton across the Florida peninsula." The timing of the splashdown will depend on the hurricane’s progress and subsequent weather assessments. The next weather briefing is scheduled for Friday, October 11, when mission managers will re-evaluate the situation to ensure safe landing conditions for the crew and recovery teams.

NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than 3:05 a.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 10, for the undocking of the Crew-8 mission from the International Space Station due to weather conditions off the coast of Florida. Mission managers continue to monitor conditions, with the next…

— NASA Commercial Crew (@Commercial_Crew) October 6, 2024

Crew-8’s Mission and Delayed Return to Earth

Crew-8 launched on March 3, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying its four-person crew to the ISS for a six-month mission. The mission marked another successful collaboration between NASA and SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program, which continues to expand human spaceflight capabilities. The astronauts have been conducting a wide range of scientific experiments, including studying human health in space and testing new technologies designed to support future deep-space missions.

The return of Crew-8 was originally planned to coincide with the arrival of Crew-9, which launched on September 29, 2024, but the unpredictable weather caused by Hurricane Milton has repeatedly delayed their departure. According to NASA, the astronauts will remain on the ISS until it is safe for them to undock and re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Once undocked, the Crew Dragon capsule will execute a deorbit burn before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, followed by a splashdown off the coast of Florida.

Crew-8’s homecoming is dependent on favorable sea and weather conditions, as splashdowns are inherently complex operations. NASA typically targets recovery zones in either the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico, but both regions are vulnerable to the effects of the hurricane. As NASA and SpaceX await more favorable conditions, NASA has continued to emphasize the importance of “monitoring weather and sea state” for the safety of the crew.

Looking Ahead: Weather Permitting

With Hurricane Milton continuing to threaten Florida’s coastline, it remains uncertain exactly when the Crew-8 astronauts will be able to return to Earth. Mission planners are working closely with meteorologists to track the storm and assess when it will be safe to attempt the undocking and subsequent splashdown.

If the storm subsides and conditions improve by October 13, the crew will undock and begin their journey home, splashing down in either the Atlantic or Gulf waters depending on the storm’s impact.

The delay caused by Milton is a stark reminder of how unpredictable weather can affect space operations, especially those that require precise timing for launches and returns. For now, the Crew-8 astronauts continue their work on the ISS, extending their stay in orbit until conditions on Earth are suitable for their safe return.