A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will leave the International Space Station on Thursday, February 26, bringing back more than 5,000 pounds of scientific research and hardware. The spacecraft is scheduled to undock from the Harmony module’s forward-facing port at 12:05 p.m. PST, according to NASA. The mission, part of the 33rd Commercial Resupply Service (CRS-33) contract, marks the first return of samples from experiments conducted in microgravity since last year’s crewed mission to the station.
The Dragon will fire its thrusters to safely separate from the space station before beginning its journey back to Earth. Splashdown is expected later that evening at approximately 11:44 p.m. PST off the California coast. NASA will not stream the splashdown live but will provide updates on its space station blog. The returning cargo includes biological samples, materials science experiments, and hardware from international partners, including the European Space Agency and Japan’s JAXA.
The mission highlights the ongoing collaboration between NASA, SpaceX, and global research institutions. Scientists on the Space Coast, including those at the Kennedy Space Center, have been tracking the mission’s progress. Dr. Elena Torres, a materials scientist at the University of Central Florida, said the returned experiments could advance work in sustainable manufacturing and radiation shielding for future deep-space missions.
Residents and space enthusiasts can watch the undocking via NASA’s official live stream, which will be available on the agency’s website and social media platforms. The splashdown will not be broadcast, but NASA will share photos and updates after the spacecraft lands. The CRS-33 mission follows a successful launch in August 2025, which delivered supplies to the station during a period of heightened solar activity.
Space Coast Daily will provide live coverage of the event, including interviews with local experts and updates on the mission’s impact on the region’s aerospace industry. The return of the Dragon spacecraft is a routine but critical part of maintaining operations on the International Space Station, which serves as a laboratory for research in physics, biology, and engineering.