Watch LIVE: Nasa launches four astronauts on six-month mission to space
They are set to liftoff from the Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant milestone as the Crew Dragon Endeavour embarks on its sixth flight to the ISS.advertisementThe Crew-11 team comprises Nasa astronauts Zena Cardman, serving as Commander on her first spaceflight, and Michael Fincke, the mission Pilot making his fourth voyage to space.Joining them are Japan's JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, both taking part in their first space missions. This diverse crew represents international collaboration in human spaceflight.Following liftoff aboard SpaceX's reliable Falcon 9 rocket, the crew is expected to dock with the ISS's Harmony module about 39 hours later, at approximately on August 2. Once aboard the orbiting laboratory, the astronauts will join Expedition 73/74 crews with a packed agenda of scientific experiments and maintenance work in a microgravity environment.The six-month mission under Nasa's Commercial Crew Program reflects an ongoing partnership with SpaceX to transport astronauts and supplies to low Earth orbit, enabling Nasa to focus resources on upcoming deep space missions including Artemis lunar exploration.Crew-11 also demonstrates SpaceX's growing role as a commercial launch provider, with the Falcon-9's first stage booster B1094 making its third flight in this mission.Notably, the Crew-11 launch is the first Nasa astronaut mission to be livestreamed on Netflix in addition to Nasa's traditional coverage platforms, expanding public engagement with space exploration.As Crew-11 embarks on its journey, the mission highlights continued international cooperation and technological advancement in human spaceflight, paving the way for future explorations beyond Earth's orbit. The astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth in April 2026, concluding nearly nine months aboard the ISS.- EndsMust Watch
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