NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, arrived at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on July 26, 2025. Their arrival marks the final stages of preparation for their upcoming launch to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission.
The astronauts traveled on a NASA aircraft from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, landing at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) at 13:12 EDT (17:12 GMT). “We are absolutely joyed to be here at Kennedy Space Center,” said Cardman, who serves as the Crew-11 commander. She expressed that this moment signifies the start of an exciting week leading up to their launch.
Launch Details and Preparations
Crew-11 is set to launch aboard the Dragon “Endeavour” on a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC’s Launch Complex 39A on July 31, 2025, at 12:09 EDT (16:09 GMT). If successful, the mission will see the crew dock with the ISS on August 2, 2025, joining the station’s Expedition 73 and later Expedition 74 crews.
Fincke, who serves as the Crew-11 pilot, reminisced about his previous experiences at the LLF. “Boy, it’s great to be back. One of the last times I landed here was on space shuttle Endeavour, and now we get to go on another endeavor, a Dragon Endeavour, this time,” he said.
On July 25, mission managers conducted a flight readiness review and confirmed that all preparations for the launch could proceed. “We’re looking forward to launching soon,” stated Fincke, reflecting the enthusiasm shared by the entire crew as they prepare for this significant mission.
The Crew-11 mission, coordinated by SpaceX, is part of NASA’s ongoing efforts to maintain a human presence aboard the ISS. This will not only advance scientific research but also strengthen international cooperation in space exploration. As the countdown to launch begins, the anticipation among the astronauts and mission control grows, signaling another exciting chapter in human spaceflight.
