MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. – NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-11 mission from Kennedy Space Center on Friday. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is now heading to the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission features four astronauts: NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui from Japan’s JAXA, and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos. They boarded SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft just before the launch at 11:43 a.m. EDT.
Launch Highlights:
11:43 a.m.| The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off with the Crew-11 astronauts onboard.
11:17 a.m.| The Dragon spacecraft was confirmed ready for launch, with Falcon 9 fueling in progress.
11:11 a.m.| The crew arm was retracted, and the Dragon’s emergency escape system was activated. This system ensures the crew can safely exit if complications arise in the first 12 minutes post-launch.
9 a.m.| The astronauts arrived at the launch site and boarded the Dragon spacecraft.
Weather Update: Initially, the chances of good weather were 75%, but this dropped to 60% as the launch approached. Meteorologist Jessica Dobson noted that sea breezes could create clouds and rain, which could impact the launch.
Mission Goals: The Crew-11 team aims to spend six months aboard the ISS. Their work will include scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, which are crucial for future deep space exploration. This mission is an important step in NASA and SpaceX’s ongoing partnership for long-duration human spaceflight.
According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 62% of Americans believe space exploration is essential for scientific advancement. As space travel becomes more accessible, interest in such missions grows.
This mission marks SpaceX’s 11th crew rotation under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, reinforcing its role in modern space travel. With each mission, we get closer to new discoveries and opportunities beyond our planet.
The Source: Information is from NASA and SpaceX.
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