2.08.2025
NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov arrived at the International Space Station as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the orbiting complex at 2:27 a.m. EDT on Saturday.
Following Dragon’s link up to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module, the crew members aboard Dragon and the space station will begin conducting standard leak checks and pressurization between the spacecraft and the station in preparation for hatch opening scheduled for approximately 4:15 a.m.
Quelle: NASA
+++
Hatches Open, Crew-11 Enters Station and Joins Expedition 73
Crew-11: Together, We Rise
For sixty years – since NASA’s Gemini program – every astronaut launching to space has worn a mission patch. These usually contain the astronauts’ names and also reflects unique elements of the respective missions. When assigned to their mission to the International Space Station, one of the first things the crewmates of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission did was design and create their mission patch.
The mission patch Crew-11 designed contains multitudes of meaning for the mission, the nations involved, and for all humanity. As described by the crew:
“It embodies teamwork, exploration, and the deep connections that bind us – across nations, agencies, and families. Shades of white, red, and blue pay tribute to the flags of the three nations represented by the crew, while three gold stars symbolize the unity of our three space agencies working together in pursuit of discovery. At the heart of the design, two radiant sunbeams form the number “11” illuminating a blue circle – a subtle nod to Voyager’s Pale Blue Dot image, reminding us of the fragile unity of our shared home. This vision of Earth is reflected in the dragon’s eye, reinforcing our focus on exploration and the perspective gained from space. The dragon, evoking the heraldry of family crests, stands as a guardian of our mission and legacy. Within the stars, we honor the children of the crew, a reminder of the generations inspired by human spaceflight. Encircling it all, a red flame represents both the power of launch and the plasma of reentry, symbolizing the full journey – our departure from Earth, our work aboard the International Space Station, and our safe return home. Crew-11: Together, we rise.”
Quelle: NASA