Zena Cardman prepares for her first spaceflight

Former PAL student and NASA astronaut Zena Cardman was recently featured by NASA’s Image of the Day, as she prepared for her upcoming journey into space.

Jun 24, 2025: NASA astronaut Zena Cardman inspects her spacesuit’s wrist mirror ahead of her first spaceflight to the International Space Station with SpaceX Crew-11.www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-astronaut-zena-cardman

NASA 🔴 Image of the Day (Unofficial) (@nasa-daily.bsky.social) 2025-06-24T22:00:26.257Z

Cardman will serve as Commander of SpaceX Crew-11, scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) this July. While she has travelled to Antarctica several times with the PAL team, this will be her first flight into space. She will remain in orbit with the rest of the crew for approximately one year as part of a long-duration science expedition aboard the ISS.

Cardman was originally scheduled to fly as part of SpaceX Crew-9, until that mission was shifted to accommodate the return of astronauts Barry E. Wilmore and Sunita Williams.

Once again, the entire PAL team wishes Zena and the Crew-11 team a safe voyage and successful mission!