NASA and SpaceX Launch Crew-11 to the International Space Station

Four astronauts have begun their journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission. The launch took place on Friday at 11:43 a.m. (EDT) from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the Dragon spacecraft into orbit with NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov on board. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS early Saturday morning, around 3 a.m.

Once aboard, the new arrivals will join seven astronauts already living and working on the space station, temporarily bringing the total crew to 11.

During their mission, the Crew-11 team will conduct a variety of experiments, including research to support future Moon and Mars missions. They will study plant growth in space, investigate how microgravity affects human health, and explore ways to produce stem cells and nutrients in orbit.

NASA will provide live coverage of the docking, hatch opening, and crew welcome ceremony starting at 1 a.m. on Saturday via NASA+.

Crew-11’s arrival also means that the current Crew-10 astronauts will soon begin preparations for their return to Earth, following a brief handover period.

The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a partnership with private companies like SpaceX to provide safe and reliable access to space. These missions not only support scientific discoveries on Earth but also help prepare humanity for future exploration beyond our planet.