NASA and SpaceX have set their sights on July 31, 2025, for the launch of Crew-11, the latest crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, utilizing the Crew Dragon Endeavour in conjunction with a Falcon 9 booster.
Endeavour’s Record Flight
Crew-11 marks the sixth flight for the Crew Dragon Endeavour, making it SpaceX’s most experienced crew vehicle to date. According to Sarah Walker, SpaceX’s director of Dragon mission management, Endeavour has successfully transported 18 astronauts from eight countries since its first mission in 2020. This mission initiated a new era of human spaceflight for the United States after a hiatus following the retirement of the Space Shuttle in July 2011.
“This Dragon spacecraft has successfully flown 18 crew members representing eight countries to space already, starting with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in 2020,” Walker stated. For Crew-11, Endeavour will debut SpaceX’s upgraded drogue 3.1 parachutes. These parachutes are designed to enhance safety during reentry and will be put to their first operational test during this mission.
Launch Preparations and Crew Details
The Falcon 9 booster assigned to this launch is core B1094, which has previously supported two Starlink missions and the private Ax-4 mission that launched on June 25, 2025. Crew-11 comprises four astronauts: NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui from Japan, and Oleg Platonov from Russia.
The timing of the Crew-11 launch is critical, as it coincides with a tightly coordinated sequence of missions at the ISS. NASA is managing the departure of Crew-10 and the arrival of SpaceX’s CRS-33 mission, highlighting the importance of meticulous planning to ensure the station’s altitude and resupply cadence are maintained.
Bill Spetch from NASA emphasized the necessity of careful logistical coordination. “Providing multiple methods for us to maintain the station altitude is critically important as we continue to operate and get the most use out of our limited launch resources that we do have,” he noted.
As the launch date approaches, SpaceX and NASA are focused on ensuring a seamless transition between missions, maximizing the operational capabilities of the ISS while advancing human space exploration. The upcoming Crew-11 mission not only represents a significant step for SpaceX but also reinforces international collaboration in space exploration, showcasing the potential for future missions beyond Earth.
