The next group of astronauts set to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) has arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking an exciting milestone in their journey. NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, alongside JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, landed at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility after flying from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas.
Expressing their excitement about the upcoming mission, Cardman, who serves as the Crew-11 commander, stated, “We are absolutely joyed to be here at Kennedy Space Center. This is the first moment when it’s really starting to feel real. This is the beginning of a week when things will feel progressively more and more real as we approach our launch.”
The Crew-11 team is set to launch aboard SpaceX’s Dragon “Endeavour” on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, July 31, at 12:09 p.m. EDT. If all goes as planned, they will successfully dock at the ISS the following Saturday, joining the crew of Expedition 73, and later Expedition 74.
Fincke, Crew-11’s pilot, reflected on his previous experiences with space travel, saying, “Boy, it’s great to be back. One of the last times I landed at the [LLF] was on space shuttle Endeavour, and now we get to go on another endeavor, a Dragon Endeavour, this time.”
On a positive note, after a successful flight readiness review, mission managers have greenlit launch preparations, leading to the team’s anticipation of the upcoming launch. This mission not only represents a significant achievement for the astronauts but also emphasizes the ongoing collaboration and achievements within the global space exploration community.
Overall, this journey reflects humanity’s continued exploration of space, showing hope for future advancements and discoveries beyond our planet.