SpaceX astronauts urge boaters to stay away from splashdown zone

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen from the international space station (Nasa/AP)

The astronauts flying SpaceX back to Earth this weekend urged boaters to stay safe by staying away from their capsule’s splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nasa and SpaceX are promising more Coast Guard patrols and fewer pleasure boaters for Saturday morning’s planned splashdown off the Florida coast, the company’s second return of a crew.