SpaceX successfully delivered a fresh crew to the International Space Station on Saturday, setting a new record for the shortest trip. The four-person team, consisting of U.S., Russian, and Japanese astronauts, docked at the orbiting lab after a 15-hour journey from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. They will spend at least six months on board, swapping places with colleagues who have been stationed there since March.
The crew includes NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan’s Kimiya Yui, and Russia’s Oleg Platonov. The astronauts had to adjust their original mission assignments due to changes in the Boeing Starliner program, which was grounded by technical issues until 2026. Despite the delay, SpaceX stepped in to provide a new launch opportunity for the crew.
The ISS population will temporarily swell to 11 with the addition of the new arrivals. According to NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, the experience of seeing the space station up close for the first time was “unbelievably beautiful.” The Russians still hold the record for the fastest trip to the space station, completing the journey in just three hours.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/02/spacex-astronauts-international-space-station.html