Zena Cardman, the talented NASA astronaut, has quickly secured her next opportunity in space exploration after being removed from the SpaceX Crew-9 mission last year. Announced by NASA officials on March 27, Cardman is set to command the SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with a potential launch date as early as July.
Joining Cardman on the Crew-11 mission are three distinguished astronauts: NASA's Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Oleg Platonov from the Russian space agency Roscosmos. In this mission, Fincke will take the role of pilot, while Yui and Platonov will serve as mission specialists, bringing a wealth of experience to the Crew-11 team.
Cardman was initially slated for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission. However, in late August of the previous year, NASA made the decision to remove her and fellow astronaut Stephanie Wilson from the Crew-9 manifest. This left two vacancies on the Crew-9 Dragon capsule for its launch on September 28. These seats were subsequently filled by NASA's Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were sent to the ISS during the inaugural crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner capsule.
During the Starliner mission, the spacecraft encountered significant issues, including thruster problems and helium leaks. As a result, NASA opted to return the Starliner uncrewed in early September. Wilmore and Williams were then reassigned for a long-duration ISS mission, culminating in a successful splashdown on March 18, attended by dolphins.
As Crew-11 prepares for its launch, it marks the first spaceflight for both Zena Cardman and Oleg Platonov, who were selected for their respective space programs in 2017 and 2018. In contrast, Mike Fincke brings substantial experience to the mission, having previously completed three ISS trips, amassing a remarkable total of 382 days in space across missions conducted in 2004, 2008, and 2011.
Notably, Crew-11 also represents a reassignment for Fincke, who was initially slated to participate in the Starliner-1 mission. However, uncertainties surrounding the timeline of Starliner’s next flight—due to the technical issues experienced last year—have led to his inclusion in Crew-11 instead.
Kimiya Yui, another vital member of the Crew-11 team, has previously served as a flight engineer on ISS Expeditions 44 and 45, spending a substantial 142 days aboard the station from November 2014 to July 2015. As Crew-11 approaches, the combined expertise of these astronauts promises an exciting and productive mission to the ISS.
As for fellow astronaut Stephanie Wilson, NASA has yet to announce her reassignment for a future spaceflight, leaving her next mission in suspense as the space community eagerly anticipates updates.
