NASA, SpaceX Target January 14 for Crew‑11 Return to Earth

Cape Canaveral, January 10:
NASA and SpaceX have announced January 14, 2026, as the target date for the safe return of the Crew‑11 mission from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth. The mission, which has spent several months conducting scientific research and technological experiments aboard the ISS, is scheduled to conclude with a precision splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. NASA officials confirmed that weather conditions and re-entry systems are being closely monitored to ensure the astronauts’ safe descent and recovery.

Crew‑11, consisting of a mix of international and U.S. astronauts, completed critical experiments in areas ranging from microgravity biology to materials science. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule will detach from the ISS and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, deploying parachutes to ensure a smooth splashdown. Recovery teams, including Navy personnel and NASA specialists, are prepped to retrieve the crew and transport them to nearby medical and debriefing facilities. Officials highlighted the mission’s success in strengthening international collaboration and advancing research critical to long-term human space exploration, with learnings expected to benefit upcoming lunar and Mars missions.