9-1-1 season 9 episode 3 recap: Are Athena and Hen finally safe?

The title The Sky Is Falling, aptly describes what's happening in 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3. The debris falling from the sky causes immense destruction and emergencies. Meanwhile, Athena and Hen are waiting for someone to contact them and help them return to Earth. Unfortunately, they don't have much time, as their oxygen supply is starting to dwindle.

As always, Karen has a way to help them get to safety. At the end of 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3, Athena and Hen arrive at the ISS, but their relief is short-lived. What they think is a safe haven ends up dangerous after all, as debris from a geomagnetic storm starts crashing right into the station.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3. Reader's discretion is advised.

9-1-1 season 9 episode 3: Are Hen and Athena safe at the ISS?

As it turns out, the International Space Station isn't as safe as everyone thinks it is. The fire in the spacecraft is quickly contained after Athena opens the hatch, but while they are safe from the fire, they can't survive returning to Earth without the hatch. So, instead of going down, their safest bet is to go further up and into the ISS.

While Hen and Athena, along with everyone aboard the Inara, arrive safely at the ISS, they later find out that the station is in the middle of the debris field. It means that all floating debris following the geomagnetic storm will hit the station. According to the one remaining astronaut they saved inside the ISS, the debris has already hit the station three times, and she's not sure it's going to survive a fourth.

9-1-1 season 9 episode 3 ends with the beginning of the debris field hitting the station for the fourth time, with everyone scrambling and bracing for impact. The "safe place" isn't safe after all, and the question of whether Athena and Hen survive their journey in outer space continues to linger.

Tripp Hauser washes his hands off the space trip disaster 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3

Athena in space (Image via Instagram/@911onabc)

While everyone aboard Tripp Hauser's Inara spacecraft scrambles for help from everyone on Earth, the tech billionaire has already washed his hands of the team. He kicks off 9-1-1 season 9, episode 3, with a press conference, lying through his teeth about the geo storm being sudden, minutes after the space trip, when in truth, he knows it was going to happen and still continues the space launch.

He has also given up reconnecting and helping the crew return to Earth, getting ahead of the story to try to save face. He tells the world that the rescue mission is impossible right now, with what is happening as debris continues to fall from the sky, causing immense destruction.

And while he can't fool Karen, she's left with no choice but to put Tripp Hauser on the back burner for now and focus on trying to find a way to help Hen, Athena, and the rest of the crew. Even Tripp's fiancée, aboard the Inara, hasn't mentioned him saving the day, and everyone has just accepted that their best bet at returning to Earth safely is Karen.

Other highlights in 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3

Chimney at the collapsed train station (Image via/ @the911onabc)

The Inara crew's journey to space is filled with highlights, from Athena opening the hatch and almost flying off the aircraft, had it not been for Hen holding her down by the leg. But as nerve-wracking as the scene is, it has also given Athena a one-of-a-kind experience of gazing at the universe at large.

Kern also gets his moment in 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3, with him flying the ship for real this time, not just in simulation, and does a risky docking maneuver to the ISS. Meanwhile, Parker almost doesn't make it after having panic attacks one too many times and uses up all his oxygen supply from the suit. But Athena helps by pushing his dead weight up to the ISS.

Back on Earth, the 118 makes a difficult decision during an impossible mission. Chimney decides to amputate a woman they are trying to rescue when they have exhausted all options to save her. Meanwhile, May and the kids at the firehouse start treating patients after a surge of victims arrives, as the hospital can no longer take any more.

Catch 9-1-1 season 9 episode 3, along with the show's previous episodes, streaming on ABC and Hulu.

About the author

Kinette covers beauty and home decor as a lifestyle writer at Sportskeeda. With over 7.5 years experience in writing for diverse platforms, including The Coolist, Snap Knot, Leisure Seeker, and KS Content Studio, Kinette is quite the shapeshifter in the content world and prides herself as a generalist. However, she feels that her greatest strength is her repository of personal expertise and experience, which she combines with extensive research and credible sources, to deliver compelling reportage on beauty, lifestyle, and wellness.

Kinette graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering before venturing into the world of home improvement and decor writing, although her love for skincare soon pushed her into the beauty space. Despite covering a wide range of topics in her writing career, Kinette now leans towards categories she has personal or educational experience in, to offer only the most reliable and insightful reading experience to her audience.

Kinette’s favorite artist is Taylor Swift, whose lyricism and ability to create a vivid picture with deft wordplay she admiresa lot. When not writing and reporting on beauty and lifestyle trends, Kinette loves playing with her dogs, drinking coffee in the morning and experimenting with cocktails in the evening, reading romance novels, and learning about new cultures and languages.

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Edited by Kinette Sumadia