SpaceX Crew-11 returns after ISS mission, delivering more than 850 hours of research

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 — NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — returned to Earth after a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station. During their stay, Cardman, Fincke, and Yui contributed more than 850 hours of research aimed at preparing humanity for the return to the Moon and future missions to Mars, while also improving life on Earth.

Highlights of the science completed include Cardman’s work with bone stem cells (MABL-B) to improve understanding of bone loss in microgravity and its relevance to conditions such as osteoporosis; Yui’s Earth photography from the station’s cupola to document geographic and weather changes; and Fincke’s tests of an inflatable capture bag (Capture Bag Demo) that could remove orbital debris and may support trapping samples or capturing small asteroids.

Fincke also tested a T-Mini temperature-monitoring headband to track core temperature in microgravity, and JAXA’s BioNutrients-3 work produced yogurt bags as part of research into on-demand nutrients using microorganisms. JAXA’s HTV-X1 cargo craft, launched from Tanegashima Space Center on Oct.

26, 2025, was captured by Canadarm2 and delivered approximately 12,800 pounds of science, supplies, and hardware to the station. The crew joined the Expedition 73 portrait marking 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the station.

Key Topics

Science, International Space Station, Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui, Mabl-b