NASA Hosts SpaceX Crew-11 Astronauts for Public Event at Headquarters

On Monday, June 1, 2026, NASA welcomed the public to witness the return of the Crew-11 mission. The agency hosted a special event featuring three crew members who had just completed a significant journey in low Earth orbit. The gathering took place at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in the Webb Auditorium. This historic building, known as the Mary W. Jackson building, is located at 300 E. Street SW in Washington, D.C. It serves as the headquarters for NASA, where major decisions and celebrations regarding space exploration occur.

The event was part of the crew’s standard postflight visit. It provided an opportunity for the astronauts to share their experiences with the public and the media. The speakers included NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, along with Kimiya Yui, an astronaut from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). They discussed their recent sixteen7-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). During this time, they conducted a wide range of science experiments. These studies were designed to benefit life on Earth and advance human space exploration.

The Crew-11 mission began its journey on August 1, 2025. The launch occurred from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This launch site has a long history of sending astronauts into space. The crew traveled aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The spacecraft docked successfully with the International Space Station on August 2, 2025. This docking marked the beginning of their long stay in orbit.

During their time on the station, the three astronauts, along with crewmate Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, traveled nearly 71 million miles. They completed more than 2,670 orbits around Earth. This distance and number of orbits highlight the immense speed at which the station travels. The Crew-11 mission was a significant milestone for several of the participants. It was Mike Fincke’s fourth spaceflight and Kimiya Yui’s second. For Zena Cardman and Oleg Platonov, it was their first time in space. These varying levels of experience allowed the crew to share different perspectives on their roles.

Mike Fincke’s career is particularly notable. He has now logged 549 days in space. This achievement ranks him fourth among all NASA astronauts for cumulative days in space. His extensive experience contributed to the stability and success of the mission. The crew members eventually returned to Earth on January 15, 2026. They splashed down off the coast of San Diego, marking the end of their sixteen7-day journey.