A SpaceX Crew-11 mission touched down in Florida on a sweltering Saturday afternoon, bringing together four astronauts for a six-month mission to the International Space Station. Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos cosmonaut agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Yui and NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman were the first to step off the NASA Gulfstream jet.
Cardman, who is making her first trip to space, described the landing as a “real moment” that feels more real with each passing day. The crew will conduct a six-month mission onboard the ISS, but this could be extended up to eight months depending on Roscosmos’ Soyuz flight schedule changes.
Fincke, who previously trained for Boeing’s Starliner-1 mission, is excited about flying on Dragon Endeavour and hopes to see the capsule dock with the ISS while he’s on board. He praised NASA’s American industry partners, saying they’ve built “really fine, space-flying machines.” Yui will have a rare opportunity to meet her fellow JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi in orbit.
The crew will take part in the International Space Station’s 25th year of continuous crew activity and join Expedition 73 onboard. Cardman described it as an honor to be a part of this human spaceflight endeavor, flying with experienced astronauts who have seen the ISS grow from its beginning.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/07/26/crew-11-astronauts-cosmonaut-arrive-in-florida-ahead-of-launch-to-the-space-station