Crew-11 Gears Up for Historic Space Station Voyage
Florida, July 28, 2025 – The countdown is on for NASA‘s SpaceX Crew-11 mission, with the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft now firmly positioned on the launchpad at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The four-person international crew completed a crucial dry dress rehearsal today, marking a significant step closer to their journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke of NASA, alongside JAXA’s Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut oleg Platonov, spent the day meticulously preparing. Donning their advanced spacesuits, the crew underwent thorough air leak checks within the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout building. Following these preparations, thay were transported to Launch Complex 39A, where they boarded the Dragon spacecraft that will carry them to their orbital destination.
The Crew-11 mission is slated for launch no earlier than 12:09 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 31, embarking on a long-duration stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.
Upon their arrival, the outgoing Crew-10 members will provide a extensive handover, familiarizing the new arrivals with ongoing scientific experiments and essential station maintenance. This seamless transition is vital for maintaining the safety and operational efficiency of the ISS. Crew-10,which includes NASA astronauts anne McClain and Nichole Ayers,JAXA astronaut takuya Onishi,and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov,will then return to Earth,splashing down off the coast of California,weather permitting.
This mission underscores the success of NASA’s Commercial crew Program, a vital partnership with American private industry that has revolutionized transportation to and from the ISS.This collaboration is not only ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective access to space but is also opening new avenues for scientific research and commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. For nearly a quarter-century, continuous human presence on the ISS has been instrumental in advancing scientific understanding and pioneering technologies that pave the way for future human exploration of the Moon and mars.