News crews observing the splashdown of the SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams — and Russian cosmonaut Aleks Gorbunov — noticed that Crew-9 was being greeted by the locals shortly after they hit the water.
A post on X from NASA’s Johnson Space Center included video of a pod of curious dolphins approaching the craft after it landed in the water off Florida’s gulf coast, leaping out of the water nearby as crews approached to aid the astronauts.
“The unplanned welcome crew! Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon,” the caption read.
The unplanned welcome crew!
Crew-9 had some surprise visitors after splashing down this afternoon.🐬 pic.twitter.com/yuOxtTsSLV
— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 18, 2025
In the video, a female voice was describing some of the safety checks and procedures taking place in preparation for pulling the capsule out of the ocean — but then she noticed something else in the water: “Wow, we got a cute little pod of dolphins, it wasn’t just one or two! I mean, that water just looks beautiful. We had ideal splashdown parameters today, obviously … the weather is beautiful.”
Vice President JD Vance commented as well:
This is extremely cool https://t.co/SQYJpSUA2l
— JD Vance (@JDVance) March 18, 2025
“This is amazing. Dolphins were in the gulf to welcome the NASA astronauts home after being rescued,” another post on X read.
This is amazing. Dolphins were in the gulf to welcome the NASA astronauts home after being rescued. 🐬🥹🚀 pic.twitter.com/bsHPStq8rU
— Brandi Churchwell (@BrandiNChurch) March 18, 2025
Dolphin cam!!! pic.twitter.com/K250W8CEzp
— Ellie in Space 🚀💫 (@esherifftv) March 18, 2025
“Right now: Dolphins are greeting the SpaceX Dragon that just splashed down in the Gulf of America,” The Daily Wire’s Kassy Akiva posted.
Right now: Dolphins are greeting the SpaceX Dragon that just splashed down in the Gulf of America. pic.twitter.com/TMiQjTd6ev
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) March 18, 2025
“WOW! Dolphins are providing the welcoming committee for Dragon Freedom!” NASA Spaceflight posted.
🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬🐬 pic.twitter.com/45wDD9HWFy
— NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) March 18, 2025
“Astronauts who were stuck in space for nine months splashing down in the Gulf of America and immediately being surrounded by a pack of dolphins is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen,” Greg Price added.
Astronauts who were stuck in space for nine months splashing down in the Gulf of America and immediately being surrounded by a pack of dolphins is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
pic.twitter.com/XqKauJtFzh— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 18, 2025
Williams and Wilmore were initially supposed to stay on the International Space Station (ISS) for one week, but a problem with their Boeing Starliner craft left them stranded for nine months. Hague and Gorbunov arrived on the ISS several months later, and were there for just under six months prior to the rescue crew’s arrival. SpaceX’s Dragon capsule is set to be hoisted onto a rescue ship, after which crew members will be allowed to exit the capsule and will undergo medical checks.
