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NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard reminds mariners to stay back from maritime recovery sites during recovery operations of spacecraft and astronauts. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission is currently targeting a return to Earth Saturday morning with an anticipated splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. All boaters should tune into Broadcast Notices to Mariners on a VHF FM-Channel 16 marine radio and check the Local Notices to Mariners for updates.

The Coast Guard is responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and stewardship of our Nation’s waterways. The Coast Guard works with NASA, the Air Force, Space Force, commercial spaceflight operators, and local governments to mitigate risks from space transportation activities.

The Coast Guard’s primary role is to ensure the safety of the Marine Transportation System and those who use it. During space activities involving NASA or military interests, the Coast Guard also assists in the defense of national security assets.

The U.S. Coast Guard will establish a 10-nautical-mile safety zone around the expected splashdown location to ensure safety for the public and for those involved in the recovery operations, as well as the crew aboard the returning spacecraft

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