Excitement Builds as Crew-11 Astronauts and Cosmonauts Land in Florida for Upcoming Space Station Launch – Spaceflight Now

On a hot Saturday afternoon, four astronauts arrived in Florida for their upcoming mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew of SpaceX Crew-11 includes Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata, and NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman. Cardman, who is making her first trip to the ISS, expressed her excitement, saying, “Landing here is when it all starts to feel real.”

Before their arrival, SpaceX and NASA held a flight readiness review. They confirmed that everything is good to go for their launch from Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The Falcon 9 rocket will be readied and rolled out to the launch pad over the weekend.

This mission continues the tradition of mixing experienced fliers with newcomers. While Cardman is a first-timer, Platonov also joins the crew for his first flight. Fincke and Wakata have flown to space multiple times, giving the team a blend of fresh perspectives and seasoned knowledge.

“This crew is exceptional,” Fincke noted. He has a rich background, having helped build the ISS. His excitement comes from witnessing how the station has matured. Both Fincke and Wakata have been training for missions with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft but were reassigned to Crew-11 due to delays.

Once they reach the ISS, the Crew-11 team will overlap briefly with their predecessors, Crew-10, before taking over operations. They’re set for a six-month mission, but that could extend to eight months due to adjustments in Roscosmos’ schedule.

This mission is especially significant as they will be aboard the ISS during its 25th anniversary of continuous human presence. NASA created a special logo to commemorate this milestone, featuring an astronaut representing the many individuals who have lived and worked in space over the years.

Cardman emphasized the honor of joining this historic moment, stating, “It’s special to be part of such a grand human spaceflight endeavor.” As they prepare for liftoff, excitement runs high. The world will be watching as they contribute to space exploration and international collaboration.

For more on human spaceflight, visit NASA’s crewed missions page here.

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