Crew-11 Astronauts Arrive in Florida for Upcoming Space Launch
The crew of astronauts set to launch to the International Space Station has arrived at their launch site in Florida. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Kimiya Yui from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos, flew from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on July 26, 2025. Their arrival occurred at 13:12 EDT (17:12 GMT) at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility.
Expressing excitement about the mission, Cardman, the Crew-11 commander, stated, “We are absolutely joyed to be here at Kennedy Space Center. This is the first moment when it’s really starting to feel real. This is the beginning of a week when things will feel progressively more and more real as we approach our launch.”
Upcoming Launch Details
The astronauts are scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX’s 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 the mission proceeds as planned, they will dock with the International Space Station on August 2 to join Expedition 73 and later Expedition 74.
Reflecting on his return, Fincke noted, “Boy, it’s great to be back. 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 managers have confirmed a “go” for launch preparations following a successful flight readiness review conducted on July 25. Fincke added, “We’re looking forward to launching soon,” highlighting the team’s eagerness for the upcoming mission.
As the countdown to launch continues, the Crew-11 team remains focused on their training and preparations, ready to contribute to ongoing research and activities aboard the International Space Station.
