Latest news with #Crew11
UPI
4 days ago
- Science
- UPI
ISS update: Crew-11 enters quarantine three weeks before launch
NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 members stand inside the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the Johnson Space Center near Houston. They are, from left, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov and NASA astronaut Mike Fincke. Photo courtesy NASA July 18 (UPI) -- The four members of NASA's Crew-11 space mission entered quarantine in the Houston area ahead of their planned launch on July 13 from central Florida to the International Space Station. NASA's Crew 11 is the 11th operational mission of SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9. On Thursday, they entered isolation at Johnson Space Center: NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Finck, as well as Japan Aerospace Exploration astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Plantonov, 39. The two-week quarantine is standard procedure for NASA since Apollo from 1968 to 1972 to reduce preflight illness and prevent subsequent symptoms during flight. Their contact with other people is limited. Cardman, the 37-year-old commander, is making her first spaceflight with Fincke, 58, making his fourth trip to ISS. Yui, 55, will be on his first spaceflight and Platonov on his maiden mission. NASA released a podcast of the quartet on Friday. NASA's @SpaceX Crew-11 mission is just a few weeks away from blasting off to the @Space_Station. The crew recently sat down to talk about their background, their mission, and their favorite astronauts. Get the full story on Houston, We Have A Podcast: NASA (@NASA) July 18, 2025 The crew members spent several months training at NASA and SpaceX sites. They participated in training simulations at SpaceX's facility in Hawthorne, Calif., including launch, docking, undocking and departing from the ISS. Also, they were involved in a water survival demonstration inside the Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center. At NASA, the crew trained at Launch Complex 39A on the emergency escape system, which employs slidewire baskets to deliver crew and pad teams from the launch tower to armored vehicles on the ground. Earlier this month, the crew participated in an equipment interface test, putting on their spacesuits and familiarizing themselves with the interior of their Dragon spacecraft. NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 12:09 p.m. EDT July 31 from Pad 39A for the launch. The Falcon 9 has flown 515 times since 2010 from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Crew-10 launched from Kennedy Space Center on March 14. Their arrival at ISS provided a way home for two NASA astronauts who have been on the ISS since June 2024 after arriving on June 5, 2024 on the Boeing Starling Crew Flight. SpaceX, a private company with Elon Musk as CEO, is the only way now for NASA to send crews to the ISS from the United States. Americans also can fly on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How NASA's upcoming Crew-11 astronauts were impacted by Boeing Starliner incident
NASA's next crew heading to the International Space Station is set to arrive in Florida in the coming weeks − and this Crew-11 mission is in more ways than one the follow-up mission to last year's ill-fated Starliner flight test. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov are set to embark on an eight-month mission to the ISS as part of NASA's crew rotation on the orbiting outpost. The crew of four expect to liftoff in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft no earlier than 12:09 p.m. July 31 from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. When the Boeing Starliner flight test ran into trouble last year, many things got moved around, reshaping Crew-11 in the process. Astronauts bumped from previous missions are finally getting the chance to fly. "We were joyed when we got Starliner up into space, and our friends Butch and Suni docked to the space station," Finke said during a recent press briefing. "And then things changed." Fincke was originally slated to fly on Starliner's first crew rotation mission, as was Yui. Both were reassigned to this SpaceX Dragon mission. Going further back, Fincke was originally set to fly on that ill-fated Starliner flight test. Instead, Fincke became a backup astronaut, with NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore becoming the final Starliner flight test crew. Wilmore and Williams flew to the ISS onboard the Boeing Starliner in June 2024 on the flight which would have certified the spacecraft to ferry NASA astronauts alongside SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. Things did not go as planned, with helium leaks and a thruster malfunction occurring all before the duo were able to safely dock to the ISS. After much investigation, NASA decided to return the Starliner without Williams and Wilmore. This led to the agency to extend the stay of the two astronauts on the ISS and return them as part of Crew-9 on that particular SpaceX Dragon. Starliner flight test incident recap: How Boeing's Starliner test flight got here and what NASA might do to bring astronauts home What was originally set to be a 10 day test flight turned into more than nine months and led to national headlines about the crew "stuck in space." They safely returned home in March. Zena Cardman was set to see her first spaceflight on that Crew-9 flight, but instead was bumped from the mission alongside Stephanie Wilson to allow room for the return of Williams and Wilmore. "I had many hopes for Crew-9, but my only promise was to do everything in my control for a safe splashdown of Crew-9, and we did that together," said Cardman. Williams and Wilmore arrived back on Earth in March 2025, splashing down off the Gulf Coast of Florida in that Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft. Cardman, Fincke, and Yui claim their major assignment changes worked out. "It's often said that it's not when you fly, but with whom you fly, and it worked out super well," said Fincke. "Yes, of course it was an unexpected change," she said. "But spaceflight is not about me or any individual. It's about what we can do together. None of us can do this by ourselves." "Now I have the opportunity to train with this wonderful, amazing, crew," Cardman added. "Life is a journey. It takes many turns, and I'm just grateful to be here." "Starliner changed a lot in our office. Starliner is really important that we have more opportunities and more capabilities to fly into space," said Finke. "And that's why the Commercial Crew Program is still working hard with Boeing to get Starliner to be a viable transportation system up and down from the space station." NASA has repeatedly stated the need for redundancy in the Commercial Crew Program, seeking two functional spacecraft models in rotation. Boeing's Starliner was awarded a NASA contract alongside SpaceX as part of the Commercial Crew Program back in 2014. While SpaceX proved the Dragon in 2020 with the successful Demo-2 mission, Starliner has yet to fully complete an astronaut mission. SpaceX Dragon has since gone on to complete almost 10 crew rotations for NASA, with the addition of seven private astronaut missions. The initial contracts were for $4.82 billion for Boeing and $3.14 billion for SpaceX. According to Steve Stich, manager for NASA's Commercial Crew Program, NASA hopes for a Starliner flight as soon as next year. Currently, NASA is leaning towards the first return flight being a cargo mission. However, a final decision has yet to be made. When is the next launch? Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral Stich told media that Starliner is currently undergoing a lot of testing after the test flight mishap. Teams are looking into the helium leaks which occurred as well as the thruster issues. This includes pulse testing of the thruster at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. "What we're looking at is can we test all the changes we are making," said Stich. Until the resolutions of the issues seen on the Starliner flight test are found, Starliner's next flight date remains up in the air. Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@ or on X: @brookeofstars. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Here's how NASA Crew-11 was reshaped by Boeing Starliner incident
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA, SpaceX prepare for Crew-11 mission to International Space Station
The Brief NASA and SpaceX plan to launch Crew-11 to the ISS by the end of July. The four-member team will mark 25 years of human spaceflight aboard the station. Final preparations and training are underway ahead of liftoff. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch a new crew to the International Space Station later this month as part of their ongoing partnership under the Commercial Crew Program. What we know NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch Crew-11, the next group of astronauts headed to the International Space Station (ISS), as soon as July 31 from Florida's Space Coast. The four-person team includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. This mission will mark the 11th rotation flight and 12th astronaut mission under SpaceX's Commercial Crew partnership with NASA. What we don't know The exact launch date remains tentative, depending on final checks and scheduling. Officials have not disclosed the full timeline for the mission's duration or the complete list of experiments the astronauts will conduct aboard the ISS. Additionally, the specific symbolic items the astronauts are bringing to commemorate 25 years of continuous human presence in space have not been revealed. The backstory Crew-11 was originally scheduled to launch earlier in 2024, but their mission was delayed to allow for the return of Boeing Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose trip home was postponed due to spacecraft issues. This mission continues NASA's goal of maintaining multiple commercial partnerships for human spaceflight. Big picture view This flight is more than just a crew rotation — it lands during a historic moment in spaceflight: the 25th anniversary of uninterrupted human habitation aboard the ISS. The mission also underscores the ongoing international cooperation between NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos amid evolving geopolitical challenges. The astronauts will focus on scientific research, technology demonstrations, and essential station upkeep while representing the enduring global commitment to space exploration. What's next NASA and SpaceX both report that preparations are "proceeding smoothly," and the crew is fully engaged in training and medical quarantine protocols ahead of launch. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS The Source This story was written based on information shared by NASA and SpaceX.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA, SpaceX target July 31 for launch of Crew-11 to ISS
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting July 31 for the launch of Crew-11 to the International Space Station, a mission moved up to accommodate upcoming station activities. The flight will carry NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. The crew will launch aboard the same Crew Dragon capsule that first flew astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS over five years ago. The July 31 target date will allow Crew-11 to relieve Crew-10 before an upcoming Cargo Dragon mission, which will include an extended reboost experiment to raise the orbit of the space station. The astronauts gave their final update from Houston this afternoon before heading to Kennedy Space Center to prepare for their six to eight-month science mission. 'Life is a journey, it takes many turns, and I'm just grateful to be here,' said NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. 'It's often said that it's not when you fly, but with whom you fly, and it worked out super well,' said Fincke. NASA also confirmed that Boeing's Starliner spacecraft could still fly future commercial crew missions. 'Starliner is really important that we have more opportunities and more capabilities to fly into space,' said Fincke. The flight readiness review for Crew-11 is scheduled for next week, around the time Axiom-4 is expected to return with a splashdown off the U.S. West Coast. There will be a short handover between Crew-10 and Crew-11 before Crew-10 heads home. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania native flying on next SpaceX Dragon flight
(WHTM) – A Pennsylvania native will be part of a four-person crew flying on the next SpaceX Dragon launch. NASA says Allegheny County native and veteran astronaut Mike Fincke will make his fourth trip to the International Space Station on a SpaceX flight scheduled for this summer. The SpaceX Crew-11 mission will take Fincke, NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov from the Kennedy Space Center to the ISS. The crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on the company's Falcon 9 rocket in either late July or early August. NASA says the crew will 'conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations to help prepare humans for future missions to the Moon, as well as benefit people on Earth.' Fincke has logged 382 days in space and nine spacewalks in his first three missions, the last of which was in 2011. The commander on Fincke's last mission was astronaut Mark Kelly, who now serves in the United States Senate. This will be Platonov's and Cardman's first spaceflight, while Tui has made one previous trip to space. The crew is scheduled to return to Earth in 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
