SpaceX Dragon Hatch Has Closed, Ax-1 Prepares to Undock from ISS

Views from inside the ISS during hatch closure.

The hatch between the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft and the International Space Station closed at approximately 7:26p.m. ET, Sunday, April 24, the start of readying the vehicle for undocking for the Ax-1 crew’s return to Earth. 

The vehicle is anticipated to undock from the ISS at 8:55 p.m., Sunday, April 24. 

Axiom Space, NASA and SpaceX will provide joint coverage of the undocking of the Dragon Endeavour with the Ax-1 crew at 8:30 p.m. ET and will conclude around 9:15 p.m. after Dragon fully departs the protected area around the ISS. The joint webcast will be available on AxiomSpace.com, NASA.gov/live and SpaceX’s YouTube channel.

The Ax-1 crew, Commander Michael López-Alegría, Pilot Larry Connor, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy, will splash down off the coast of Florida at approximately 1:06 p.m., Monday, April 25. 

Axiom Space and SpaceX will offer joint webcast coverage for splashdown, beginning at approximately 12:00 pm ET on AxiomSpace.com and SpaceX’s YouTube channel. See additional coverage details here.

On Monday, April 25, following splashdown, Axiom Space and SpaceX leadership will provide remarks and take questions from reporters via teleconference at 3:30 p.m. 

Participants include:

  • Derek Hassmann, Operations Director, Axiom Space

  • Benjamin Reed, Senior Director, Human Spaceflight Programs, SpaceX

While aboard the ISS, the astronauts worked on more than 25 scientific experimentsin partnership with leading global organizations, including the Mayo Clinic, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, and the Ramon Foundation. The astronauts are also set to deliver research investigations for Axiom-managed organizations such as self-assembling technology for future space habitats, cell samples, and more.