The SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched four crew members to the International Space Station aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on February 13, 2026. The flight carried NASA commander Jessica Meir, NASA pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency mission specialist Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev. The four crew members joined the Expedition 74 group to restore the station complement to seven people.
The Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on October 8, 2026, ending a stay of nearly eight months for the crew. Research conducted during the mission includes pharmaceutical crystal structure analysis, bacterial cardiovascular studies, and tests of a Metal 3D Printer.
Who Flew on Crew-12
The Crew-12 flight carried four crew members: NASA commander Jessica Meir, NASA pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) mission specialist Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev. The four launched on February 13, 2026; the Dragon splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California on October 8, 2026. For ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot it was her first mission to the station.
The flight returned the orbiting laboratory to a seven-member crew complement after the departure of Crew-11 on January 14, 2026. NASA stated that research conducted across this flight advances critical technologies for deep space exploration while delivering real benefits on Earth.
| Name | Agency | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Meir | NASA | Spacecraft Commander |
| Jack Hathaway | NASA | Pilot |
| Sophie Adenot | European Space Agency (ESA) | Mission Specialist |
| Andrey Fedyaev | Roscosmos | Mission Specialist |
Launch and Docking Schedule for the Mission
The Crew-12 flight launched at 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday, February 13, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The launch vehicle was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft. Autonomous docking was scheduled for approximately 3:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module. Hatch opening was scheduled for around 5 p.m. EST the same day.
The four crew members joined Expedition 74 after Crew-11 departed on January 14, 2026.
Key Facts Documented for the Crew-12 Flight
| Flight Parameter | Published Mission Detail | Official Reference Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date and Time | 5:15 a.m. EST, February 13, 2026 | NASA launch release |
| Launch Facility | Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | NASA launch release |
| Launch Vehicle | SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket | NASA launch release |
| Spacecraft Type | SpaceX Dragon | NASA launch release |
| Station Docking Port | Space-facing port of the Harmony module | NASA launch release |
| Scheduled Docking Time | Approximately 3:15 p.m. EST, February 14, 2026 | NASA launch release |
| Scheduled Hatch Opening | Around 5 p.m. EST, February 14, 2026 | NASA launch release |
| Station Expedition Joined | Expedition 74 | NASA launch release |
| Splashdown Date | October 8, 2026 | NASA splashdown notice (Oct 8, 2026) |
| Splashdown Zone | Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California | NASA splashdown notice |
| Spacecraft Name | Crew Dragon Freedom | NASA splashdown notice |
| Time Aboard the Station | Nearly eight months | NASA splashdown notice |
Science Investigations Completed Aboard the Station
Crew-12 conducted medical, biological, and materials research across its stay aboard the orbital laboratory.
Initial research highlights announced by NASA during launch operations focused on human biology and orbital agriculture:
- Studies evaluating pneumonia-causing bacteria to assist cardiovascular treatment development.
- Development of on-demand intravenous fluid generation.
- Investigations of blood flow effects during spaceflight.
- Automated plant health monitoring systems.
- Plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions aimed at long-duration food production.
A mission summary published on October 2, 2026, detailed further experiments completed by the Crew-12 astronauts:
- Analysis of crystal structures to evaluate pharmaceutical quality and stability.
- Operation of the Cold Atom Lab to observe ultracold atoms held for longer periods than possible on Earth.
- Cellular work covering bone scaffolds, cartilage tissue engineering, stem cell expansion, and additional intravenous fluid production trials.
- Research into antibiotic-resistant bacteria alongside DNA sequencing of microbes.
- Installation and operational testing of a Metal 3D Printer designed to manufacture parts on demand.
Return and Splashdown of the Dragon Spacecraft
The Crew-12 crew returned to Earth on October 8, 2026. NASA’s splashdown notice shows the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft moments before landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev aboard. NASA says the four spent nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station.
The incoming Crew-13 flight launched on October 1, 2026, per NASA’s pre-return briefing release.
The exact undocking time and the splashdown hour were not stated in the NASA splashdown notice (Oct 8, 2026) reviewed for this page.
International Integration in Commercial Crew Rotations
The flight used a commercial SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to deliver four crew members representing three space agencies. NASA’s Meir flew as spacecraft commander and Hathaway as pilot. International partners filled the two mission specialist assignments: Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos.
Information Not Published in Official Crew-12 Releases
Official agency releases reviewed for this page omit a few flight metrics:
- The confirmed undocking time and the specific hour of splashdown.
- An exact total duration of the orbital mission in days (NASA says only “nearly eight months”).
Related Reading
- SpaceX Crew-13 Explained
- Falcon 9 Explained
- How Rocket Launches Work
- Commercial Space Stations Explained
Source for the landing: NASA splashdown notice (Oct 8, 2026). Science recap: NASA Crew-12 science mission summary.