SpaceX Launches Crew‑11 International Crew to the ISS Under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Science and Technology
On 1 August 2025, SpaceX successfully launched its Crew‑11 mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center (Florida) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon Endeavour capsule. The mission carries four astronauts to the International Space Station for a planned six‑month stay.
- The international Crew‑11 mission includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman (Commander) and Mike Fincke (Pilot), Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov representing Roscosmos. It is the eleventh crew rotation flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and the twelfth human spaceflight for Dragon vehicles.
- Originally scheduled for 31 July 2025 at 12:09 p.m. EDT, the launch was postponed due to cumulus cloud cover. SpaceX rescheduled liftoff to 1 August 2025 at 11:43 a.m. EDT, when weather conditions cleared, abiding by stringent launch safety protocols.
- After successful stage separation, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster (B1094.3) landed autonomously at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking its third mission reuse. The Dragon capsule autonomously docked with the ISS at the Harmony module’s zenith port overnight on 2 August 2025 at approximately 3 a.m. EDT (7:00 UTC).
Main Point :- (i) This marks a return to space for Mike Fincke, who rejoined after a 14-year break since his last flight on Space Shuttle Endeavour STS‑134. For Zena Cardman and Oleg Platonov, it is their first space mission; Kimiya Yui makes his second journey, with the Japanese astronaut having previously flown in 2015.
(ii) The mission aligns with NASA’s Artemis program vision and global space collaboration, integrating efforts from NASA, Roscosmos, and JAXA aboard a private-sector spacecraft. Crew‑11 will assist with scientific research and station maintenance alongside the Expedition 73 crew, before taking over duties from departing Crew‑10 members.
(iii) NASA may extend the Crew‑11 mission from the typical six-month term to eight months to optimise scheduling amid budget constraints and alignment with Russian cooperation, following proposed funding cuts to NASA programs including ISS operations by the U.S. administration for FY26.
About SpaceX
CEO : Elon Musk
Headquarters : California, the United States of America(USA)
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