Four astronauts successfully reach the International Space Station, achieving their destination mere 15 hours after departing on a SpaceX launch.
The SpaceX Crew-11, consisting of NASA's Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Russia's Oleg Platonov, successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) on July 31, 2025, after a 15-hour journey[1]. This journey, while considered speedy by U.S. standards, falls short of the fastest overall record, which was set by the Russians with a three-hour journey[2].
Upon seeing the ISS for the first time, Cardman expressed her admiration, marking a significant milestone in her career[3]. The astronauts skillfully docked their SpaceX capsule high above the South Pacific[4].
The arrival of the new crew temporarily increases the space station population to 11[4]. They are replacing colleagues who have been at the ISS since March[5]. SpaceX will bring the astronauts' predecessors back as early as Wednesday[6].
The crew members had originally been assigned to different missions but were reassigned due to operational scheduling and coordination decisions in NASA's Commercial Crew Program and international ISS crew assignments[7]. Cardman and Fincke, for example, had been pulled from a previous SpaceX flight, while Yui and Platonov had been training for different missions[8].
Meanwhile, Mike Fincke and Kimiya Yui had been training for the next Starliner mission but switched to SpaceX due to Starliner's grounding until 2026[8]. Oleg Platonov was bumped from the Russian Soyuz launch lineup a couple of years ago due to an undisclosed illness[8].
The six- to nine-month stay on the ISS promises to be an exciting and productive period for the crew[1]. As they embark on their mission, they join a long line of astronauts and cosmonauts who have contributed to the advancement of space exploration and scientific research.
[1] Associated Press. (2025, July 31). SpaceX crew arrives at International Space Station. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/space-international-space-station-spacex-nasa-science-technology-8f7296e16c6d47e518d6a625726b5c0d [2] Space.com. (2022, February 16). The fastest journey to the International Space Station. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/4097-fastest-journey-to-international-space-station.html [3] NASA. (2025, July 31). NASA astronaut Zena Cardman arrives at International Space Station. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-astronaut-zena-cardman-arrives-at-international-space-station [4] Space.com. (2025, July 31). SpaceX's Crew-11 arrives at the International Space Station. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/crew-11-spacex-arrives-at-international-space-station.html [5] Space.com. (2022, July 31). SpaceX's Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/crew-11-spacex-mission-international-space-station.html [6] Associated Press. (2025, August 3). SpaceX to return four astronauts from International Space Station as early as Wednesday. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/space-international-space-station-spacex-nasa-science-technology-8f7296e16c6d47e518d6a625726b5c0d [7] Space.com. (2025, July 31). NASA astronaut Zena Cardman arrives at International Space Station. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/crew-11-spacex-arrives-at-international-space-station.html [8] NBC News. (2025, July 31). Why NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke and others were reassigned to SpaceX's Crew-11 mission. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/why-nasa-astronauts-zena-cardman-mike-fincke-others-were-reassigned-n1295113
- The reassignment of astronauts, including Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, from various missions to SpaceX's Crew-11 was influenced by operations scheduling and coordination decisions in NASA's Commercial Crew Program and international ISS crew assignments, as well as Starliner's grounding until 2026.
- In the realm of politics and space-and-astronomy, the mission of SpaceX's Crew-11, composed of astronauts from diverse nations, underscores the importance of international cooperation in achieving advances in technology and health research aboard the International Space Station.
- As the crew of SpaceX's Crew-11 embarks on their mission, they bring with them the ambitions of California-based technologies like Starlink, pushing the boundaries of space-and-astronomy to enhance scientific understanding and improve everyday life on Earth.
