SpaceX successfully launched its eleventh operational astronaut mission for NASA on August 1, 2025, sending four Crew-11 astronauts toward the International Space Station (ISS). The mission took off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:43 a.m. EDT (1543 GMT). A Falcon 9 rocket carried the Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, marking its sixth flight, setting a reuse record for the Crew Dragon series.
The launch was initially scheduled for July 31 but was postponed due to inclement weather. SpaceX had to scrub the previous attempt with just one minute remaining on the countdown clock. After liftoff, the Falcon 9 booster successfully returned to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, creating a sonic boom that resonated for miles. Notably, this was the final landing at LZ-1, which is being retired as part of a lease agreement with private companies.
Meet the Crew of Crew-11
Crew-11 comprises NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Oleg Platonov of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos. This mission will be groundbreaking for Cardman, who is making her first spaceflight after being reassigned from the Crew-9 mission due to a change in crew composition. Fincke, serving as the pilot, brings extensive experience, having completed three previous space shuttle missions.
Yui returns for his second spaceflight after spending 142 days on the ISS in 2015. Meanwhile, Platonov is embarking on his inaugural journey into space. The four astronauts departed the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center just prior to their launch, which was delayed due to weather conditions.
Once docked at the ISS, the Crew-11 team will relieve the Crew-10 astronauts, who have been aboard since March 2025. This handover is part of NASA’s routine crew rotation, ensuring continuous human presence on the space station. Crew-11 is expected to dock at the ISS at approximately 3 a.m. ET (0700 GMT) on August 2.
Scientific Endeavors in Orbit
During their approximately six-month mission, the Crew-11 astronauts will conduct a variety of scientific experiments. These include simulating lunar landings near the moon’s south pole, researching ways to protect astronauts’ eyesight in microgravity, and studying plant cell division in space. NASA also plans to explore the production of human stem cells and on-demand nutrients during this mission.
There is potential for extending the duration of Crew Dragon missions to eight months, according to Dana Weigel, the International Space Station Program Manager at NASA. She indicated that discussions are ongoing regarding the possibility of extending Crew-11’s flight.
In addition to Crew-11’s activities, the ISS is scheduled to welcome the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 mission in November 2025, which will transport NASA astronaut Chris Williams along with two cosmonauts. A Northrop Grumman resupply spacecraft will also dock at the ISS during Crew-11’s stay.
This mission underscores SpaceX’s ongoing collaboration with NASA under the Commercial Crew Program, which aims to facilitate safe transportation of astronauts to and from the ISS. As the twelfth flight under this program, Crew-11 exemplifies the success of private-public partnerships in advancing space exploration.