Crew-11 Ready for ISS Launch as SpaceX Hits Reuse Milestone
SpaceX Falcon 9 Set to Carry Four Astronauts for Six-Month Mission
SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission is officially a “go” for launch, poised to send a quartet of astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for an extended six-month stay. The historic launch is scheduled from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Endeavour Spacecraft Marks Significant Reuse Achievement
The Crew-11 astronauts will embark on their journey aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, marking its sixth flight. This mission highlights a crucial milestone for NASA and SpaceX, demonstrating the viability of reusable spacecraft. “We had certified the vehicles — the Dragons — for only five flights. Now we’ve completed all that work and we’re really ready to go,” stated Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Launching tomorrow: L-1. Space has been calling my name ever since I returned from my last mission in 2011. Our crew is ready. Let’s do this! Go Falcon, Go Dragon, Go Crew-11! pic.twitter.com/f91BPiZ6Lt
— Ken Bowersox (July 30, 2025)
Astronauts Eager for Departure, Focus on Future Exploration
The mission managers from both NASA and SpaceX have given the green light for the countdown, targeting a 12:09 p.m. ET launch attempt on Thursday, July 31. “I’m so eager to see this mission launch, but as always, we launch when we’re ready. With a little luck, we’ll see a launch soon, and we’ll also see a crew come home soon,” commented Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate. He also urged patience, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the vehicle and crew are fully prepared.
International Crew Awaits Six-Month ISS Stint
The Crew-11 mission includes NASA astronaut Zena Cardman as commander, embarking on her first spaceflight. She highlighted the significance of long-duration stays on the ISS for future deep space exploration. “Understanding how to live and work for long durations — going and staying — is a really interesting challenge, and I’m grateful that we’ve gotten the chance to do this — to hone our skills on the ISS, so that we can do this for longer durations on the moon,” Cardman explained.
Joining Cardman is veteran NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, making his fourth space voyage as pilot. He was previously assigned to Boeing’s Starliner program before reassignment due to ongoing delays. Completing the international team are Kimiya Yui of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), on his second ISS visit as mission specialist, and Oleg Platonov of Russia’s Roscosmos, on his inaugural space mission as mission specialist.
皆さん、こんにちは！打上げが近づき、引き続き忙しく過ごしています。米国の伝統もロシアの伝統も引き継ぎながら準備をしていますので、それぞれの違いを尊重しながら楽しんでいます。今日は、忙しい合間に少しリラックスした時間を過ごした際の写真を共有させていただきますね！ pic.twitter.com/0BD2efLbPb
— Kimiya Yui (July 30, 2025)
Smooth Transition Expected with Crew-10 Handover
The Crew Dragon Endeavour is anticipated to dock with the ISS approximately 39 hours post-launch, with docking scheduled for 3 a.m. ET on August 2. A brief overlap with the outgoing Crew-10 astronauts is planned to ensure a seamless transfer of duties before Crew-10 returns to Earth with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Crew-11 is expected to remain on the ISS for about six months.
Favorable Launch Conditions Predicted
The U.S. Space Force forecasts a strong 90% probability of favorable weather conditions for the Crew-11 launch. This mission underscores the continued advancement of human spaceflight capabilities, with reusable technology playing an increasingly vital role. For example, SpaceX has flown its Falcon 9 rocket over 300 times, a testament to its reliability and reusability (SpaceX, 2024).
