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Four crew members of NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-11 mission launched at 11:43 a.m. EDT Friday from Launch Complex 39A at the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station\u2019s Harmony module at approximately 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to the bold leadership of President Donald J. Trump, NASA is back! The agency\u2019s SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the space station is the first step toward our permanent presence on the Moon. NASA, in conjunction with great American companies, continues the mission with Artemis in 2026. This Moon mission will ensure America wins the space race \u2013 critical to national security \u2013 and leads in the emerging, exciting and highly profitable private sector commercial space business,\u201d said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. \u201cThe Commercial Crew Program and Artemis missions prove what American ingenuity, and cutting-edge American manufacturing can achieve. We\u2019re going to the Moon\u2026to stay! After that, we go to Mars! Welcome to the Golden Age of exploration!\u201d<\/p>\n
During Dragon\u2019s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s live coverage resumes at 1 a.m., Aug. 2, on NASA+ with rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station\u2019s Harmony module around 4:45 a.m. Once the new crew is aboard the orbital outpost, NASA will provide coverage of the welcome ceremony beginning at approximately 5:45 a.m.<\/p>\n
Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.<\/p>\n
The number of crew aboard the space station will increase to 11 for a short time as Crew-11 joins NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim, JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-10 will depart the space station after the arrival of Crew-11 and a handover period. Ahead of Crew-10\u2019s return, mission teams will review weather conditions at the splashdown sites off the coast of California prior to departure from station.<\/p>\n
During their mission, Crew-11 will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will simulate lunar landings, test strategies to safeguard vision, and advance other human spaceflight studies led by NASA\u2019s Human Research Program. The crew also will study plant cell division and microgravity\u2019s effects on bacteria-killing viruses, as well as perform experiments to produce a higher volume of human stem cells and generate on-demand nutrients.<\/p>\n
The mission is part of NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, which provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development and supporting future missions beyond low Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the space station.
Learn more about the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Program at:<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Josh Finch \/ Claire O\u2019Shea Steven Siceloff Sandra Jones
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov \/ claire.a.o\u2019shea@nasa.gov<\/p>\n
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-867-2468
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov<\/p>\n
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov<\/p>\n<\/div>\n