Crew-11 Astronauts Return After 167 Days in Space

After 167 days orbiting Earth, four astronauts are back home with stories of scientific discovery and international cooperation that reached beyond our planet.

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Japan's Kimiya Yui and Russia's Oleg Platonov, splashed down off the coast of San Diego on January 15. The crew will share their experiences at a news conference on January 21 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Their journey covered nearly 71 million miles as they circled Earth more than 2,670 times. During those five months aboard the International Space Station, they completed hundreds of science experiments and technology demonstrations that could shape our future on Earth and beyond.

The diverse crew represents three nations working together in one of humanity's most challenging environments. They lived, worked, and collaborated 250 miles above Earth, proving that international partnerships can thrive even in the harshest conditions.

Why This Inspires

This mission shows what humans can accomplish when we work together toward common goals. For over 25 years, people from different countries have continuously lived aboard the space station, advancing our understanding of everything from medicine to materials science.

The research conducted by Crew-11 will help prepare us for future missions to the Moon and Mars. But it also produces real benefits for people on Earth, from new medical treatments to better materials and technologies we use every day.

NASA's partnership with SpaceX and other private companies has made space more accessible than ever before. This collaboration has delivered safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to the space station while opening doors for more people and more discoveries.

The crew is now undergoing standard medical evaluations and reconditioning in Houston. Their successful return marks another milestone in humanity's ongoing presence in space, a presence that continues to inspire and benefit us all back on Earth.