Mission Blast-Off: SpaceX Initiates Crew-11 Journey to the International Space Station
SpaceX Successfully Launches Crew-11 Mission to International Space Station
SpaceX has successfully launched its 11th operational human spaceflight mission for NASA, marking another significant milestone in its partnership with the space agency. The mission, named Crew-11, was aboard a Dragon spacecraft and is bound for the International Space Station (ISS).
The launch took place at 11:43 a.m. ET / 8:43 a.m. PT from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Commander Zena Cardman, Pilot Michael Fincke, and Mission Specialists Kimiya Yui and Oleg Platonov are aboard Crew-11.
The Dragon capsule on this mission has previously flown on Demo-2, Crew-2, Ax-1, Crew-6, and Crew-8 missions. After stage separation, the Falcon 9's first stage completed a pinpoint landing on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking another booster recovery milestone for SpaceX.
The mission, which follows last month's successful AX-4 mission to the ISS, was executed in partnership with Axiom Space. Dragon is scheduled to autonomously dock with the ISS at approximately 3:00 a.m. ET / 12:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, August 2.
SpaceX secured a $1.5 billion contract with NASA for five Crew missions to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. This contract is part of NASA's ongoing Commercial Crew Program, which relies on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft launched atop Falcon 9 rockets for crew rotations. The upcoming missions under this contract include Crew-11 and subsequent flights, continuing NASA's access to low Earth orbit for crewed spaceflight.
Over the coming months, the Crew-11 team will conduct advanced research to support human exploration beyond low Earth orbit and improve life on Earth. SpaceX's role under this contract underscores its position as a key partner for NASA in crewed spaceflight, leveraging its reusable rocket technology and experience in human space missions.
Financially, SpaceX is expected to generate roughly $1.1 billion in revenue from NASA contracts in 2025 alone, indicating that the $1.5 billion figure for the five-mission contract is a substantial portion of its NASA business that year. The broader NASA contracts contribute significantly to SpaceX’s overall revenues, which reached around $15.5 billion in 2025, dominated by commercial operations including satellite internet service Starlink but still heavily supported by government contracts like those with NASA.
A live webcast will resume about an hour before docking and will be available to stream via SpaceX's official website, the new X TV app, and on X @SpaceX. The mission is part of a $1.5 billion, five-mission contract awarded to SpaceX by NASA in 2022, which includes Crew-10 (returning later this month), and future missions Crew-12, Crew-13, and Crew-14.
With every successful mission, SpaceX continues to solidify its role as a cornerstone of modern spaceflight and NASA's go-to partner for crewed missions to the orbiting laboratory.
Science and technology play crucial roles in the Crew-11 mission, as they enable SpaceX to successfully launch and operate the Dragon spacecraft, which is equipped with advanced systems for navigation, docking, and life support. SpaceX's part in this mission underscores the importance of space-and-astronomy, as it contributes to the continued exploration and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS), advancing our understanding of the universe and improving life on Earth.
