How do American astronauts get to the ISS?

American astronauts typically travel to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard spacecraft launched by NASA or commercial partners. Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011, astronauts have primarily used SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, both part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. These spacecraft are launched atop rockets, such as SpaceX's Falcon 9, and follow a carefully planned trajectory to dock with the ISS. Once docked, astronauts transfer to the station to conduct their missions.