SpaceX Crew-11 Astronauts Arrive in Florida for Upcoming Launch

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, alongside JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, have arrived at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida in preparation for their upcoming launch to the International Space Station (ISS). The four crew members traveled on a NASA aircraft from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, landing at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility at 1:12 p.m. EDT (17:12 GMT) on July 26, 2025.

Countdown to Launch

Upon their arrival, Cardman, who serves as the Crew-11 commander, expressed her excitement, stating, “We are absolutely joyed to be here at Kennedy Space Center. This is the first moment when it’s really starting to feel real.” She added that this week marks the beginning of a series of events leading up to their launch, scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 12:09 p.m. EDT (16:09 GMT). If all goes as planned, the crew will dock with the ISS on Saturday, August 2, 2025, joining the station’s Expedition 73 and later Expedition 74 crew members.

The Crew-11 team also includes seasoned astronaut Mike Fincke, who reflected on his connection to KSC. “Boy, it’s great to be back,” he said. “One of the last times I landed at the [LLF] was on space shuttle Endeavour, and now we get to go on another endeavor, a Dragon Endeavour, this time.”

Mission Preparedness

Prior to their arrival, mission managers completed a flight readiness review, granting the green light for launch preparations to proceed. Fincke conveyed the team’s anticipation, remarking, “We’re looking forward to launching soon.”

The astronauts will be flying aboard the Dragon “Endeavour” spacecraft, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC’s Launch Complex 39A. This mission is part of NASA’s ongoing collaboration with SpaceX, aimed at facilitating regular transportation to and from the ISS.

The Crew-11 astronauts are set to make history as they embark on this significant journey, marking another milestone in human space exploration. As they prepare for their mission, their enthusiasm and commitment to advancing scientific research aboard the ISS remain evident.