![\"The](\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/jsc2025e011960_alt\/jsc2025e011960_alt~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1535&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\")
<\/a><\/figure>Expedition 74<\/a> is preparing to split up as four crew members turn their attention to Wednesday\u2019s departure. The homebound quartet\u2014representing NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-11<\/a> mission\u2014spent Tuesday packing cargo, reviewing return to Earth procedures, and transferring hardware aboard the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mission managers have given the \u201cgo\u201d for the return to Earth of NASA astronauts Zena Cardman<\/a> and Mike Fincke<\/a> with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov aboard the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Cardman will command and Fincke will pilot Dragon alongside Mission Specialists Yui and Platonov when it undocks from the Harmony module<\/a>\u2019s space-facing port at 5:05 p.m. EST on Wednesday. Weather is looking excellent for Dragon\u2019s parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of California at 3:41 a.m. on Thursday.<\/p>\n NASA+ begins its live coverage at 3 p.m. on Wednesday when the foursome enters Dragon, says goodbye to the crew on the orbital outpost, and closes the hatch. NASA+ returns at 4:45 p.m. for Dragon undocking coverage. Next, NASA+ will be back on the air at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday when Dragon begins its descent toward Earth. Finally, at 5:45 a.m. NASA+ will broadcast the post-splashdown news conference. All the activities can be viewed on NASA+<\/a>, Amazon Prime<\/a>, and the agency\u2019s YouTube<\/a> channel.<\/p>\n Cardman began Tuesday with her departing crewmates and trained to use respirators during unlikely events such as an ammonia leak. Next, she transferred standard emergency gear from Dragon and stowed it inside the space station with assistance from NASA Flight Engineer Chris Williams<\/a>. Fincke and Yui partnered together and uninstalled science hardware from the station and loaded it inside Dragon. All four crew members, including Platonov, continued packing personal items, practiced Dragon deorbit procedures on a computer, and discussed their mission readiness with mission controllers on the ground. Three crew members will remain aboard the orbital outpost after Crew-11 leaves.<\/p>\n Expedition 74 will be commanded by Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov leading Flight Engineers Sergei Mikaev and Williams. Kud-Sverchkov and Mikaev started their shift on Tuesday taking a test assessing how crews make decisions and work together in space. Next, Kud-Sverchkov participated in a blood pressure study then jogged on a treadmill for a physical fitness test. Mikaev also took part in the blood pressure study then inventoried cargo and hardware stowed throughout the station\u2019s Roscosmos segment. Williams spent the day supporting his departing crewmates.<\/p>\n Learn more about station activities by following the <\/em>space station blog<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>@space_station<\/em><\/a> on X, as well as the <\/em>ISS Facebook<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>ISS Instagram<\/em><\/a> accounts.<\/em><\/p>\n Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. <\/em>Subscribe here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Mark A. Garcia <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Expedition 74 is preparing to split up as four crew members turn their attention to Wednesday\u2019s departure. The homebound quartet\u2014representing NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-11 mission\u2014spent Tuesday packing cargo, reviewing return to Earth procedures, and transferring hardware aboard the International Space Station. Continue reading