NASA and SpaceX are gearing up for the return of the Crew-11 mission, with undocking from the International Space Station scheduled for no earlier than 5:20 p.m. EST on January 14, pending weather conditions. This mission includes NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.
The decision to expedite the Crew-11 mission’s return was made on January 8 as NASA closely monitored a medical concern regarding a crew member, who is currently stable. Due to privacy considerations, further details about the situation are not being disclosed.
Following the planned undocking, the Crew-11 team is expected to splash down off the California coast at 3:41 a.m. on January 15. Mission managers are carefully observing recovery conditions, as undocking will depend on several factors including spacecraft readiness, team preparedness, and weather conditions.
NASA will provide live coverage of the mission’s return, available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. The broadcast schedule includes:
– 3 p.m. – Hatch closure coverage begins
– 3:30 p.m. – Hatch closing
– 5 p.m. – Undocking coverage begins
– 5:20 p.m. – Undocking takes place
After undocking, NASA will share audio communications between the Crew-11 team and mission control as the Dragon spacecraft makes its way back to Earth.
The return mission has also been set for January 15, starting with coverage at 2:15 a.m. leading up to the anticipated splashdown. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will host a news conference following the splashdown, which will be streamed live.
This mission represents a significant step in ongoing human spaceflight endeavors and emphasizes the collaborative efforts between NASA and SpaceX in advancing space exploration while ensuring the safety and well-being of astronauts. The successful execution of this mission will not only mark the return of the Crew-11 members but also provide valuable data and experience for future missions.