NASA and SpaceX have officially cleared the highly anticipated Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with the launch scheduled for July 31, 2025, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, will send four astronauts aboard a reused Crew Dragon Endeavour for a six-month scientific expedition in low Earth orbit.
The Crew-11 launch is scheduled no earlier than 12:09 p.m. EDT on July 31 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The crew will ride aboard the Crew Dragon Endeavour, making its record-breaking sixth flight, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket.
The Dragon capsule is expected to dock with the ISS around 3 a.m. EDT on August 2, approximately 39 hours after launch. This mission will replace Crew-10, who arrived at the station in March and will return to Earth after the Crew-11 team completes a handover.
Crew-11 features a diverse, international team of space travelers:
Zena Cardman (NASA) – Mission Commander, flying her first space mission
Mike Fincke (NASA) – Pilot, veteran astronaut on his fourth spaceflight
Kimiya Yui (JAXA) – Mission Specialist, representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, on his second flight
Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos) – Mission Specialist from Russia, making his space debut
Mike Fincke was previously assigned to the Boeing Starliner program but was reassigned to Crew-11 due to scheduling delays in Starliner’s development.
While on board the International Space Station, the Crew-11 astronauts will support dozens of scientific experiments sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory. These studies span across regenerative medicine, fluid dynamics, advanced computing, and even student-led research.
Stem Cell Studies
Led by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of Colorado, these experiments will examine how stem cells grow and mature in microgravity, with the aim of developing therapies for heart and neurodegenerative diseases.
Engineered Liver Tissue Development
Conducted by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, this investigation will focus on vascularized liver tissue. This could contribute to future transplant solutions and regenerative treatment options.
Student Research: Genes in Space™
High school students Isabelle Chuang and Julia Gross, winners of the 2024 Genes in Space™ competition, will test the use of phages (bacteria-targeting viruses) as a potential way to treat microbial infections in space. The competition is sponsored by Boeing, miniPCR bio, and the ISS National Lab.
Droplet Physics Research
Backed by the US National Science Foundation, the University of California, Berkeley will explore particle behavior inside liquid droplets, which could enhance manufacturing techniques and environmental cleanup methods.
Edge Computing in Space
In partnership with Axiom Space, Red Hat will test its Red Hat Device Edge platform. This system enables real-time data processing in orbit, helping astronauts and scientists adapt experiments more efficiently without waiting for data to be sent back to Earth.
For the first time in history, a NASA crewed launch will be streamed live on Netflix, marking a major step in bringing space science to the public. Amazon Prime Video, which already streams select NASA events since May, will also provide coverage.
This broader media access aligns with NASA's goal of increasing public engagement in space missions.
Mission readiness has been confirmed by both NASA and SpaceX. Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, affirmed that Endeavour has passed all certification requirements for its sixth journey. Ken Bowersox, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate, emphasized that launch decisions are based on complete technical readiness.
Weather forecasts from the US Space Force are favorable, with a 90% chance of good conditions at launch time.
Conclusion: Crew-11 Poised for Launch and Discovery
With technical systems ready, experienced astronauts on board, and cutting-edge research lined up, Crew-11 represents the next big step in NASA's low Earth orbit missions. The use of a reused Crew Dragon and international collaboration underscore the evolution of commercial spaceflight.