International Space Station Archives - Page 2 of 8

October 3, 2025

Collins Aerospace Faces Scrutiny Over ISS Spacesuit Program

NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy conducts a spacewalk in a Collins Aerospace EMU to set up the Tranquility module for the future installation of a NanoRacks airlock that will enable public and commercial research on the outside of the International Space Station. Cassidy has completed 10 spacewalks throughout his career for a total of 54 hours and 51 minutes spacewalking time.
Photo: NASA

Collins Aerospace, a North Carolina-based major aerospace contractor with deep roots in Brevard County, is under scrutiny following a critical NASA Inspector General report that highlights serious performance issues with the company’s management of the spacesuits used on the International Space Station.

Collins is a unit of RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) and it employs thousands in Brevard County and plays a pivotal role in Florida’s aerospace ecosystem. The company supports not only the ISS program but also numerous spaceflight systems through partnerships with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and commercial space providers operating along the Space Coast.

With over 110 missions and nearly 300 spacewalks to its credit, the Collins Extra Vehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is an integral part of the ISS and a key component of the American space program. Spacecraft in their own right, these complex systems allow human extracurricular activities outside of ISS where the crew can perform repair, insulation, experiment retrieval and other vital activities for the ongoing functionality of the orbiting outpost. Simply put, they are critical items, even if the general public often takes them for granted.

The Report

You can read the report for yourself below, or download it to read in Acrobat Reader or a similar PDF viewer.

final-report-ig-25-012-nasas-management-of-iss-extravehicular-activity-spacesuits Download

EMU Current Situation

18 EMU suits were originally manufactured, and the last time a number was reported — in 2017 — the number of functioning EMUs had dropped to 11, and conventional wisdom in the space industry holds that there are fewer than the eight-year old 2017 count still working.

While the EMU is a venerable piece of hardware that has served NASA for decades, it is close to its end of life. Now, a NASA audit, released this week by NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), paints a troubling picture of Collins’ work under the $1.5 billion Extravehicular Activity Space Operations Contract (ESOC).

Collins was originally awarded in 2010 for $324 million, the contract has ballooned in size and scope as the ISS mission has been extended through 2030, presumably the same year ISS will be deorbited.

NASA Findings

The report cites repeated delays in delivering life support components, including the fan pump separator and carbon dioxide sensors, which are essential to astronaut safety. In some cases, components originally due in 2020 and 2022 have still not been delivered.

Category	Deficiency	Danger
Summary of Deficiencies cited by NASA
Water Intrusion in Helmets	NASA documented multiple incidents where water leaked into astronauts’ helmets during spacewalks, including a 2013 event and another in 2022.	These events pose severe risks of asphyxiation, vision impairment, and communication failure during extravehicular activities.
Thermal Regulation Failures	Malfunctions in cooling systems, especially the sublimator units, have caused problems regulating suit temperature.	Uncontrolled temperatures can lead to overheating or hypothermia, endangering astronaut health and limiting operational capability.
Injuries from Suit Fit and Design Limitations	The bulky and rigid design has led to physical injuries, particularly in the shoulders and hands, due to poor fit and restricted mobility.	These injuries can impair astronaut performance and require medical attention, possibly compromising mission objectives.
Delayed Delivery of Critical Components	Collins has experienced years-long delays in delivering essential life support components, such as fan pump separators and carbon dioxide sensors.	These delays reduce the number of available functioning suits, increasing the risk of suit failure and EVA cancellations.
Obsolescence of Replacement Parts	Many suit components are no longer manufactured, and suppliers have exited the market, making replacements difficult.	Continued use of obsolete or expired parts increases the likelihood of system failure during missions.
Quality Control Failures	Instances were reported where expired, incorrectly built, or inadequately tested components were installed or shipped, including a component that remained on the ISS two decades past expiration.	These failures compromise suit integrity and astronaut safety, raising the risk of malfunctions in space.
Inadequate Management of EVA Anomalies	Collins and NASA experienced delays in identifying and resolving anomalies, such as the 2024 umbilical unit water leak that led to a spacewalk cancellation.	Slow responses to real-time issues increase the risk of loss of life support functions and mission failure.
Cost Overruns and Schedule Failures	Over the past three fiscal years, Collins exceeded planned costs by an appreciable amount.	These financial and schedule inefficiencies strain NASA’s resources and delay the availability of safe, functioning suits.
Inflated Contractor Performance Ratings	Despite repeated failures, Collins received high performance scores and a majority of available award fees, which the Inspector General deemed inconsistent with actual results.	Overly generous evaluations reduce accountability and hinder meaningful performance improvement.

International Space Station (ISS) EVA Suit Water Intrusion Report S–2013–199–00005 Download

NASA’s own evaluations, according to the report, appear to inflate Collins’ performance scores, particularly in technical management and safety compliance, despite “persistent schedule, cost, and quality problems.” In 2023, NASA took the unusual step of sending a formal letter to Collins leadership expressing dissatisfaction across multiple contracts — including ESOC.

NASA management concurred with most of the report’s recommendations and committed to updating evaluation criteria and reassessing award fee practices by the end of 2025. However, they defended the current scores as fair within the broader context of the contract’s scope.

For its part, Collins says it has been troubled by supply chain issues, schedule delays, cost overruns. These problems have threatened NASA’s ability to conduct safe and timely spacewalks, a critical function for ISS maintenance and research.

As of the time of this writing, the company has not responded publicly to the NASA OIG report.

Collins Dropped Out Of Next-Gen Spacesuit Development

In 2019, NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel strongly recommended a complete EMU replacement due to the aging technology in the long-running program. In 2022, NASA selected Collins and Axiom Space to develop the next-generation spacesuit systems needed for the Artemis Project and for ISS. Collins was tasked with building the ISS suit, Axiom with the lunar suit.

Things seemed to be going well for Collins in their efforts as they developed and tested their new systems.

In 2024, however, Collins dropped out of the program. It was said that NASA and Collins felt that the development timeline would not support the space station’s schedule and NASA’s mission objectives, and thus the contract with Collins was mutually descoped.

Industry chatter suggested at the time that Collins’s program was encountering cost overruns and technical challenges, and that under a fixed-price or tightly constrained contract environment, continuing the program would have risked further losses.

Whether or not that conjecture was true is immaterial: Collins was out, Axiom Space and the AxEMU were the only game in town. Until Axiom’s suit was ready to take over Artemis and ISS use, Collins would continue to support the current EMU. That work is under scrutiny from the NASA OIG Report.

The Next Generation Suit – On The Way And Apparently On Track

As mentioned above, Axiom Space is the sole vendor preparing the next generation of spacesuits for NASA and presumably for other customers.

Axiom describes their ISS version of the suit: “Similar to the Artemis III spacesuit, the Axiom Space ISS suit will be built to accommodate a wide range of crew members … provide increased flexibility … life support systems, pressure garments, and power avionics and communication.”

SpaceX

While SpaceX and the Polaris Dawn flight made a lot of noise in 2024 with its EVA, it should be noted that the SpaceX suit tested was not even the old EMU’s equal in terms of environmental control, autonomy, duration, robustness, and task flexibility. The SpaceX suits were intermediate or developmental EVA-capable suits, not yet the full “go-anywhere, high-complexity” spacesuit used by NASA for ISS or lunar EVAs. Theirs is a program still in development.

Currently the AxEMU is undergoing testing and development, focusing on preparation for NASA’s Artemis missions. Recently, for the first time, two AxEMU suits were tested at the same time in the in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA Sonny Carter Training Facility in Houston. Last month astronaut Walter Villadei took part in an integral test of the AxEMU using lunar-task tools, to evaluate stowage, deployment, and usability of tools under realistic constraints.

No specific date for testing the new AxEMU suit in space has been given, but multiple sources say that the company is shooting for a Critical Design Review late in 2025 or early 2026. Following the resolution of any action items, the AxEMU may be tested in orbit on ISS prior to being put to work on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis landings.

What’s better than one suit? TWO suits! 🧑‍🚀🧑‍🚀@NASA and @Axiom_Space teams held the first dual spacesuit run at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory with NASA astronauts wearing Axiom Space’s lunar spacesuit. This was the final integration test, proving both the spacesuit and… pic.twitter.com/8P04fyCXu3
— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) September 30, 2025

September 25, 2025

Dream Chaser Flight Delayed Until Late 2026

In a shift for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program, the agency and Sierra Space announced today a mutual agreement to modify their contract concerning the Dream Chaser spaceplane.

Instead of committing to a series of resupply missions, Sierra Space will now focus on a free-flight demonstration targeted for late 2026, while NASA will provide only minimal support for the remaining development phase.

Under the revised agreement NASA is no longer bound to purchase a defined number of resupply missions from Sierra Space. If the free-flight demonstration is successful, NASA retains the option to contract later resupply missions via the current framework.

NASA’s involvement will scale back to a minimal supporting role for the remainder of the project and the demonstration itself.

“Development of new space transportation systems is difficult and can take longer than what’s originally planned. The ability to perform a flight demonstration can be a key enabler in a spacecraft’s development and readiness, as well as offering greater flexibility for NASA and Sierra Space,” said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s International Space Station Program.

“As NASA and its partners look toward space station deorbit in 2030, this mutually agreed to decision enables testing and verification to continue on Dream Chaser, as well as demonstrating the capabilities of the spaceplane for future resupply missions in low Earth orbit.”

Dream Chaser was born out of NASA’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program, initiated in 2010. NASA awarded Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the original developer of Dream Chaser, over $300 million across multiple Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) phases.

In 2016, NASA selected Dream Chaser under the Commercial Resupply Services 2 (CRS-2) contract, alongside SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. NASA committed to at least six resupply missions to the ISS using Dream Chaser, starting no earlier than 2020, later delayed to 2023, then 2024, and now late 2026.

The Dream Chaser cargo variant, called Tenacity, was designed specifically to fulfill these missions and was slated to fly on one of the United Launch Alliance Vulcan certification flights. Those Vulcan flights have come and gone, and Tenacity has remained at Kennedy Space Center, ostensibly in preparation for its maiden flight. At this point in time, it is unclear if the spacecraft will remain here in Florida, or will return to Sierra’s facilities while work on Tenacity is completed.

Vulcan Cert 2 liftoff — Vulcan Cert 2 lifts off with a dummy payload instead of Dream Chaser in October of 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Now, under the revised agreement, NASA’s role is being reduced to minimal support, as Sierra Space leads the flight demo independently. If successful, NASA may still procure future cargo flights, but it is no longer obligated to do so.

This leaves Dream Chaser with an uncertain future: it is clearly having problems finalizing its development, and once that development is completed, there is no guarantee that NASA will be a customer. Given that ISS operations are slated to end in 2030, the space agency may opt to pass on the Dream Chaser entirely and continue to rely on SpaceX and Northrop Grumman’s proven platforms instead to retire risks in ISS logistics.

Should that come to pass, Sierra Space could have a completed orbital spacecraft with no immediate customers. That’s the bad news. The good news is that an offering of supply services aboard an already certified platform that is launcher-agnostic might be compelling to commercial space station vendors, provided the price is right.

September 16, 2025

CRS-23 Engine Shuts Down Early, Arrival At ISS Delayed

A Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo craft with its two cymbal-shaped UltraFlex solar arrays deployed approaches the International Space Station on Aug. 6, 2024.
Photo: NASA

NASA and Northrop Grumman have postponed the planned arrival of the Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft at the International Space Station as mission teams work through an alternate approach to ensure a safe rendezvous with the orbiting outpost after an engine issue on the spacecraft. Originally scheduled to reach the station on Wednesday, September 17, Cygnus’s new arrival date is still under review.

The delay resulted from an issue early Tuesday morning when Cygnus XL’s main engine shut down earlier than expected during two planned orbital adjustment burns. These burns were critical to positioning the spacecraft for its approach to the ISS. Despite the premature shutdown, all other systems aboard Cygnus XL are functioning normally, according to NASA officials.

Cygnus XL is carrying over 11,000 pounds of scientific experiments, crew supplies, and hardware for the orbiting laboratory. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is set to capture the vehicle using the space station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, with NASA astronaut Zena Cardman serving as backup. Once secured, Cygnus will be berthed to the Earth-facing port of the Unity module, where it will remain until March 2026.

The vehicle launched at 6:11 PM ET on September 14 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, designated Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 23 (CRS-23), is part of NASA’s ongoing partnership with commercial providers to maintain a steady flow of cargo and research to the ISS.

Flight controllers are currently evaluating an alternative trajectory plan to ensure a safe and successful docking in the coming days. NASA will provide updates as a revised schedule is confirmed.

September 14, 2025

Northrup-Grumman and SpaceX Planning To Launch Cygnus CRS-2 NG-23 Early This Evening

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo craft awaits its capture by the International Space Station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm, commanded by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick on Aug. 6, 2024.
Credit: NASA

SpaceX is planning to launch Falcon 9 and the Northrup-Grumman CRS-2 mission towards low Earth orbit and the International Space Station this evening. Shortly afterward, the Space Coast will hear a sonic boom as the booster returns to land at Cape Canaveral.

Launch time is scheduled for 6:11:48 PM ET in an instantaneous window. As is standard for most launches to Station, should weather or technical reasons prevent a launch at the time, SpaceX will be forced to stand down and wait for the next window tomorrow.

Payload

Tonight’s mission will be the Cygnus XL variant of Northrup-Gruman’s cargo delivery spacecraft. The XL is a “stretched” version that offers significantly more cargo volume and payload mass compared to earlier Cygnus versions. Specifically, it increases the cargo-carrying capacity by approximately 1,250 kg (roughly 33%) over the baseline, bringing its total payload capacity to around 5,000 kg (11,000 pounds) of pressurized cargo.

Among the research payloads are experiments for growing semiconductor crystals in microgravity, tools to refine technologies for cryogenic fuel tanks (which are critical for future space missions), and a UV light system designed to limit microbial growth in the station’s water systems. Also aboard are supplies for pharmaceutical crystal development with implications for cancer and other disease treatments. No ice cream this time, we checked and did not see it mentioned in NASA’s manifest.

Weather

Compared to other missions of late, the Launch Mission Execution Forecast from the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 is almost optimistic: 75% GO at launch time.

Trajectory

Northeast on the well-worn path to ISS:

Streaming Options

NASA will livestream the launch on NASA-TV. Coverage starts about 20-30 minutes before liftoff.

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

Please note that there is a delay between the launch stream and the actual countdown clock if you are watching in person. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also available online at nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

Since the launch is during the early evening, a lot of options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets. Jetty Park will have the best view of the booster return, but not as spectacular a view of liftoff. On the other hand, Titusville parks will have the opposite: a great view of liftoff but not as close as Jetty Park for the landing.

Playalinda Beach is several miles north of the launch pad, but ignition and of course the flight of the rocket and its return are visible from that location. If you go, go early in case the crowds are heavy.

Other options include The Space Bar, a rooftop bar at the Courtyard By Marriott in Titusville. It offers great views of the launches and a full bar and menu. Other options include New York, New York on the Indian River in Titusville, but if you want to grab a bite, go early, because their kitchen usually closes for the day around 6:30 PM.

August 24, 2025

Launch Report: CRS-33 Launches From The Cape Overnight

SpaceX launched Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral overnight, sending supplies to the International Space Station aboard Cargo Dragon. Liftoff was at 02:45 AM ET into partly cloudy skies.

Tonight’s launch was the seventh for Booster 1090, which landed safely aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ some eight minutes and forty seconds after liftoff. ‘ASOG’ will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be unloaded and transported to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission.

At T+08:47, Cargo Dragon achieved its initial orbit, and less than a minute later, it separated from Falcon 9’s second stage and began to make its way to the International Space Station, where it is expected to dock tomorrow morning.

Cargo

Food, supplies, hardware and new scientific experiments make up the bulk of the cargo being carried to ISS. For more specifcs, consult our Launch Preview article.

While docked, Dragon will perform a series of burns to help the @Space_Station maintain its current altitude, using an independent propellant system and two Draco engines in the spacecraft’s modified trunk pic.twitter.com/suIdBQivUr
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 24, 2025

Launch Replay

Next Launch

	Details
Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Starlink Group 10-11 — Go for Launch!
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9
Pad	Launch Complex 39A
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Wednesday, 08/27/2025 1:49 AM
Window Closes	Wednesday, 08/27/2025 5:49 AM
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation — SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

As of 1:39 PM Sunday August 24, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

August 23, 2025

SpaceX Set To Launch Supplies To ISS Overnight

SpaceX and NASA are set to send supplies to ISS overnight aboard Cargo Dragon. Liftoff is set for 2:45:36 AM ET in an instantaneous window. And it will be a quick trip once in orbit: after an approximate 28-hour flight, Dragon will dock with the orbiting outpost on Monday, August 25, around 7:30 AM ET.

At A Glance

Field	Details
Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Dragon CRS-2 SpX-33 — Go for Launch!
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9
Pad	Space Launch Complex 40
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Sunday, 08/24/2025 2:45:36 AM
Window Closes	Sunday, 08/24/2025 2:45:36 AM
Destination	Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description	33rd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station operated by SpaceX. The flight will be conducted under the second Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Cargo Dragon 2 brings supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support science and research investigations that occur onboard the orbiting laboratory.

As of 10:00 AM Saturday August 23, 2025. Launch times are subject to change or cancellation at any time. Consult SpaceX.com for more information.

Along with the usual gamut of food, gear, and crew supplies, CRS-33 will deliver a range of scientific experiments to the International Space Station. These include stem cells that promote bone formation, aimed at studying how to prevent bone loss in space. Dragon will also carry materials for 3D printing medical implants—research that could lead to better treatments for nerve damage back on Earth.

The Tortilla Express

Another item on the launch manifest for CRS-33 is roughly 1500 tortillas. They are a staple food aboard Station — convenient, quick, and quite handy to bundle up other food items…breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are a crumb-free condensed item, making the humble tortilla one of the most likely foods humans will carry to Mars and beyond.

For #NationalTacoDay, here's a space taco @astro_tim made.Tortillas are one of the most popular food items! https://t.co/JRNWUvhE3l pic.twitter.com/lzIOI1bVi4
— International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 4, 2016

Other payloads include bioprinted liver tissue for examining how blood vessels form in microgravity, and tools for printing metal cubes in orbit.

Planned Reboost Test For Cargo Dragon

Cargo Dragon will also conduct a reboost test to help maintain the station’s altitude. The boost system, housed in Dragon’s trunk, features its own propellant setup and uses a pair of Draco engines powered by existing hardware.

Starting in September 2025, the system will carry out a series of burns to demonstrate its ability to sustain the lab’s orbit. This follows Dragon’s first successful test of the reboost function on November 8, 2024, during NASA’s 31st commercial resupply mission with SpaceX.

Cargo Dragon is expected to stay docked at the station through December after which it will return to Earth off of the coast of California.

Booster: B1090

This will be the seventh flight of first stage B1090, which will be supporting this mission. Previously, B1090 launched O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10, Bandwagon-3, O3b mPOWER-D, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, it will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas, located downrange off the South Carolina coast. There will not be a sonic boom on the Space Coast after the launch.

Weather

The 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 released their Launch Mission Execution Forecast yesterday afternoon, and it calls for a 70% chance of acceptable weather, with watch items being the usual summer items: cumulus clouds and nearby lightning.

Trajectory

Northeast, on the usual ISS route.

B1090 will touch down off the South Carolina coast aboard ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’

Online Viewing

Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link

SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: CRS-33. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about twenty minutes before liftoff.

For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.

Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.

Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.

Launch Viewing: In Person

The best free options are available for spectators: Jetty Park, the Banana River Bridge on FL 528 W or the southern Titusville parks on Washington Avenue / US-1 are your best bets. Don’t forget bug spray.

August 1, 2025

Crew 11 Beats The Storms, Now Headed To ISS

SpaceX, NASA and the Crew 11 astronauts beat the clouds and rain showers today, but just barely. With dark skies and rain rapidly advancing from the south, liftoff of SpaceX’s 18th crewed flight was at 11:43 AM ET from Launch Complex 39A from Kennedy Space Center. Crew 11’s four astronauts are now on their way the International Space Station, with an expected arrival time at the orbital outpost around 3AM ET tomorrow, August 2.

The countdown today was a near carbon copy of yesterday’s: picture perfect with few if any issues until the last half hour. At that time, with afternoon temperatures rising into what is best called “miserable”, coastal winds started to rise up in the atmosphere, creating clouds that would grow into rain showers and later, thunderstorms. Yesterday, the clouds were too close to LC-39A and caused a launch scrub because of a weather violation. Today, with a Phase 1 lightning issued only minutes before, the burgeoning showers stayed just far enough away to allow the countdown to proceed and liftoff to occur on schedule.

Later, when Booster 1094 returned to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station rather quietly — from the vantage of the KSC Press Site, the descending booster was hidden in the clouds until the very last, appearing only a second or two before it’s final landing burn began. The normal sonic boom was muted too, and was nowhere near as loud as normal. Today’s landing marks the last at Landing Zone 1 as SpaceX prepares to move Falcon 9 landing operations to a new area nearly adjacent to Space Launch Complex 40.

Meanwhile, the second stage and astronauts aboard Crew Dragon Endeavour continued on their way to orbit, which they achieved at the T+ 00:08:46 mark. At T+ 09:36, Crew Dragon separated from Falcon 9’s second stage.

On Their Way To ISS

Now in orbit, Crew 11 will begin chasing down ISS in earnest, with an expected arrival time around 3 AM ET on August 2nd.

After docking, the station’s total crew will climb to 11 for a brief period as they join current occupants: NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim; JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky.

Crew-10, the previous NASA-SpaceX mission, will remain aboard for a short handover after Crew-11 arrives, then return to Earth. Before their departure, mission teams will monitor weather conditions at designated splashdown zones off the California coast to ensure a safe landing.

Crew-11’s mission focuses heavily on scientific research supporting long-duration human spaceflight and applications on Earth. Their work includes simulating lunar landings, studying how to protect astronauts’ vision in space, and advancing human spaceflight research through NASA’s Human Research Program. Additional experiments will explore plant cell division, the impact of microgravity on virus-bacteria interactions, and methods to produce more human stem cells and generate nutrients on demand.

July 31, 2025

Stray Storm Stops Crew 11 Launch Seconds Before Liftoff

The launch of Crew 11 and its astronauts aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon was halted 67 seconds before liftoff today due to a passing pop-up storm.

“On the Countdown Net, Hold! Hold! Hold! We are standing down for a violation of weather rules,” SpaceX’s launch director said, putting an end to hopes for a launch on what had otherwise been a hot, humid and hazy Space Coast day.

The inclement weather didn’t seem like much, especially to a resident: a small pop-up shower was immediately to the north of Kennedy Space Center and Launch Complex 39A, and its presence violated the Cumulus Cloud rule in place in the Launch Rules.

While the storm seemed like a benign rain shower, it still was a system that carried the potential of electrical activity, something unacceptable for rockets flying nearby.

LaunchFAQ Download

Shortly after the scrub at Kennedy Space Center's Press Site — Shortly after the scrub at Kennedy Space Center’s Press Site
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Rinse and Repeat, Tomorrow

Almost immediately after today’s scrub, NASA announced that the “next launch opportunity will be tomorrow, Aug. 1, at 11:43 a.m. ET.”

That is, if the planned attempt is not called off well in advance before the new planned T-0. Tomorrow’s weather forecasts from the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 — the official weather authority for the Eastern Range — are forecasting a High Risk that weather along the ascent corridor will not be acceptable. Weather along the ascent corridor is critical in the unlikely event of a launch abort.

That path is generally up the Eastern Seaboard of the US, the Canadian Maritimes, and finally all the way to Ireland. It’s quite a stretch of land, but one that’s also critical for crew safety.

If anything, today proved that the weather here on the Space Coast can and will change in a few short minutes. Let’s hope for tomorrow that it changes back in NASA and SpaceX’s favor.

Here is the schedule info, as of 08:00 PM ET:

Falcon 9 Block 5 | Crew‑11 Mission Details

Mission	Falcon 9 Block 5 \| Crew‑11
Organization	SpaceX
Location	Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket	Falcon 9 Block 5
Pad	Launch Complex 39A
Status	Go for Launch
Status Info	Current T‑0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens	Friday, 08/01/2025 11:43:42 AM EDT
Window Closes	Friday, 08/01/2025 11:43:42 AM EDT
Destination	Low Earth Orbit (ISS)
Mission Description	SpaceX Crew‑11 is the eleventh crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The four-person crew includes astronauts from NASA, JAXA, and Roscosmos. They will dock with the ISS approximately 39 hours after launch and remain in orbit for ~6–8 months to support station operations and scientific research.

July 27, 2025

Crew 11 Set For Thursday Lunchtime Launch From KSC

Crew 8 on the pad at LC-39A.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

NASA and SpaceX are finalizing preparations for the launch of Crew-11, the next long-duration mission to the International Space Station (ISS), currently targeted for Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 12:09 PM ET from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew members arrived yesterday at KSC, and are undergoing their final preparations for Wednesday’s launch.

The mission will send four astronauts to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, flying the Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft on its sixth voyage to orbit. The launch marks the eleventh operational crew rotation flight under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

Should weather or technical issues delay the liftoff, NASA and SpaceX have identified Thursday, August 1, as the primary backup launch opportunity, with a similar afternoon launch window.

Leading the Mission: Commander Zena Cardman

At the helm of Crew-11 is NASA astronaut Zena Cardman, making her first journey into space. Selected by NASA in 2017, Cardman holds degrees in biology and marine science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to her astronaut career, she conducted research in microbial ecology and geobiology—skills that align closely with her role in conducting biological experiments on the ISS.

Commander Zena Cardman speaking Saturday after the Crew 11 astronauts arrived at Kennedy Space Center
Photo: Eric A. Moore/Florida Media Now

A Veteran Returns: Mike Fincke

Seated beside Cardman in the pilot’s chair is veteran astronaut Mike Fincke. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and flight test engineer, Fincke has already logged more than 381 days in space across two ISS expeditions and one space shuttle mission. He has also completed nine spacewalks.

Astronaut Mike Fincke in a Russian Orlan suit during an EVA.
Photo: NASA

Originally assigned to the Boeing Starliner program, Fincke was the backup astronaut attached the the Crew Flight Test of Starliner that resulted in the unexpectedly long stay aboard ISS for astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Finke was reassigned to Crew-11 after the return of Starliner, and commercial crew schedule adjustments were made thanks to delays introduced by the CFT problems. His experience provides invaluable backup for the relatively newer members of the team, and his familiarity with long-duration spaceflight is expected to be critical in managing station operations and mentoring the crew aboard.

Representing Japan: Kimiya Yui

JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui returns to orbit for his second flight, having previously served aboard the ISS in 2015 during Expedition 44/45. Yui, a former fighter pilot in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, was instrumental in setting up Japan’s Kibo laboratory module during his first mission. On Crew-11, he’ll continue that legacy by supporting international science initiatives and representing Japan’s contributions to the station’s operations.

A Russian Debut: Oleg Platonov

Oleg Platonov
Photo: Credit: IMAGO/ITAR-TASS

Rounding out the crew is Oleg Platonov, a first-time space traveler from Russia’s Roscosmos agency. Platonov, an aerospace engineer and former Air Force officer, was initially scheduled to fly on a Soyuz mission but joined Crew-11 under a seat-swap agreement between NASA and Roscosmos.

Despite political tensions on Earth, Platonov’s role highlights the ongoing collaboration between the United States and Russia in maintaining the ISS as a platform for peaceful international science and exploration.

Once At ISS

Once aboard the ISS, the crew will take part in Expeditions 73 and 74, diving into hundreds of research projects ranging from plant biology to space manufacturing to human health in microgravity. The mission also serves as preparation for the Artemis program, as NASA continues to build systems and experience for future lunar missions.

Dragon Endeavour, making its sixth flight, adds another chapter to its legacy as the most frequently reused crew spacecraft in NASA’s current fleet. If all goes according to plan, Crew-11 will return to Earth in April 2026 with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

July 15, 2025

Axiom 4 Departs ISS, Returns Safely To Earth

infrared view of Axiom 4 under parachutes — SpaceX feed showing an infrared camera capture of Axiom 4’s descent this morning
Via: SpaceX

Early Tuesday morning, July 15 at 5:31 AM Eastern Time, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule “Grace” brought the crew of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) back to Earth with a smooth splashdown off the southern California coast. They had undocked from the International Space Station just over 22 hours earlier, at 6:15 a.m. CT on Monday, July 14. The landing marks the end of a successful 18-day journey in low Earth orbit.

Commander Peggy Whitson of the United States led the four-person team, which also included Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of India and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. Their flight marked a historic return to space for India, Poland, and Hungary—each country’s first astronaut mission in more than four decades—and the inaugural ISS expeditions for all three.

“Ax-4 illustrates the power of commercial partnerships in opening space to more nations,” said Tejpaul Bhatia, CEO of Axiom Space. “By giving Indian, Polish, and Hungarian astronauts hands-on access to the orbiting laboratory, we’re broadening global participation in human spaceflight and laying the groundwork for a dynamic low-Earth-orbit economy.”

During their stay aboard the station, the crew carried out over 60 experiments spanning life sciences, materials physics, Earth observation, and cutting-edge technology tests. Those investigations, drawn from 31 countries, underscore the mission’s international reach and its role in pushing the frontiers of microgravity research.

Beyond the lab work, the Ax-4 astronauts took part in more than 20 outreach events—engaging with students, government leaders, researchers, media outlets, and aspiring spacefarers—to share insights from their mission, spark curiosity about STEM, and demonstrate the value of global teamwork in space exploration.

Ax-4 is the fourth private astronaut flight Axiom Space has arranged to the ISS, making it the only company so far to have sent private crews into orbit. These ventures not only give governments, universities, companies, and private citizens direct access to space but also pave the way toward Axiom’s ultimate goal: building and operating Axiom Station, the first commercial space habitat.

Previous Axiom missions have carried crew members from the U.S., Spain, Israel, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Türkiye, and Sweden, in partnership with ESA. With Ax-4’s success, Axiom Space continues to demonstrate the value of international collaboration and the promise of a new era in commercial spaceflight.

Replay Of Landing