FLORIDA: SpaceX has successfully launched four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Crew-11 mission, marking another milestone in the ongoing collaboration between NASA and the private space company.
The multinational crew – composed of two American astronauts, one Russian cosmonaut, and one Japanese astronaut – lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre on Friday at 11:43 a.m. ET (1543 GMT). Despite cloudy weather conditions, the Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SpaceX Dragon capsule managed a smooth departure.
This routine mission could set a precedent, as future ISS crew stays may be extended by several weeks, offering longer periods for research and operations in space. The Crew-11 team is expected to reach the orbiting station approximately 16 hours after launch, around 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Saturday.
SpaceX’s latest mission underscores its vital role in ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. With international collaboration at the core, this flight highlights continued cooperation between the US, Russia, and Japan in space exploration.
The mission is expected to support a range of scientific experiments and technical maintenance on board the station, helping further research across medicine, materials science, and climate observation.
