NASA has announced that under its SpaceX Crew-11 mission, four astronauts are preparing for a long-duration scientific expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), involving members from three space agencies NASA, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and Roscosmos.
This mission, which will not launch before July 2025, marks the 11th crew rotation flight with SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The crew includes NASA’s Commander Zena Cardman, Pilot Mike Fincke, JAXA’s Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos’ Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov, who will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations to prepare for future lunar missions and benefit people on Earth.
Cardman, embarking on her first spaceflight, brings her experience training as a commander on the Dragon spacecraft, while Fincke, with 382 days in space and nine spacewalks, will undertake his fourth trip to the station.
Yui, with 142 days of space experience, will return to the ISS for his second mission, leading significant experiments for JAXA, and Platonov will make his first spaceflight, utilizing his diverse training background. For over two decades, human presence on the ISS has advanced scientific knowledge and showcased new technologies not feasible on Earth.
The station serves as a testing ground for NASA to understand the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and expand commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit, while NASA’s Artemis campaign progresses on the Moon, preparing for future human exploration of Mars. This mission symbolizes international collaboration, pushing space exploration to new heights and contributing to improving life on Earth.