NASA astronaut Zena Cardman will lead the SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled to launch in July.
After being reassigned from a previous mission last year, she will command a four-person team. The crew includes Pilot Mike Fincke from NASA, Mission Specialist Kimiya Yui from Japan’s JAXA, and Mission Specialist Oleg Platonov from Russia’s Roscosmos. They will travel to the ISS for an extended research stay.
Cardman. Fincke. Yui. Platonov.
The four members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission will launch no earlier than July 2025 to the International @Space_Station for a long-duration science expedition. Learn more about the crew and their mission: https://t.co/yVZ3bzH7KB pic.twitter.com/yKqnV9NsMh
— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 27, 2025NASA officials said Cardman’s appointment follows her removal from the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in August last year. That change allowed astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams to return from the ISS after Boeing’s Starliner faced thruster issues and helium leaks. The troubled Starliner returned uncrewed in September due to safety risks. Now, Cardman steps up to lead Crew-11, ensuring NASA’s ongoing presence in space.
Read: NASA Eyes New Starliner Test Flight to Fix Propulsion Issues
This mission marks the first spaceflight for both Cardman and Platonov. NASA selected Cardman in 2017, while Roscosmos picked Platonov in 2018. In contrast, Mike Fincke brings seasoned expertise, having spent 382 days on the ISS across three missions (2004, 2008, 2011). Kimiya Yui, a former ISS flight engineer, logged 142 days in orbit from 2014 to 2015. Together, they form a balanced crew for this critical assignment.
Crew-9 adjustments also reassigned astronaut Stephanie Wilson, though her next role remains unclear. Mike Fincke, originally slated for Boeing’s Starliner-1, now joins Crew-11 as Starliner-1’s launch stays delayed by technical woes. Crew-11 will sustain NASA’s ISS operations, supporting vital research and station upkeep.
