NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch Highlights | Kennedy Space Center

NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Launch Highlights | Kennedy Space Center

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Launches to International Space Station. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov of Russia, started their approximately 15-hour journey to the International Space Station on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission. Liftoff occurred at 11:43 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

The number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 for a short time as Crew-11 joins NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky of Russia.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 will depart the space station after the arrival of Crew-11 and a handover period. Ahead of Crew-10’s return, mission teams will review weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of California prior to departure from station.

During their mission, Crew-11 will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will simulate lunar landings, test strategies to safeguard vision, and advance other human spaceflight studies led by NASA’s Human Research Program. The crew also will study plant cell division and microgravity’s effects on bacteria-killing viruses, as well as perform experiments to produce a higher volume of human stem cells and generate on-demand nutrients.

The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. It provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development and supporting future missions beyond low Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the space station.

Learn more about the agency’s Commercial Crew Program at:
https://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

Video Credit: NASA's Kennedy Space Center
Duration: 1 minute, 34 seconds
Release Date: Aug. 1, 2025

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