NASA’s Crew-12 Mission: A New Chapter in International Space Collaboration

NASA and SpaceX achieved another landmark in commercial human spaceflight with the launch of Crew-12 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on February 13, 2026. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 5:15 AM EST, carrying the Crew Dragon Resilience and its four-member multinational crew.

This mission follows the early return of Crew-11 in January due to a medical emergency, temporarily reducing the ISS crew strength. Crew-12 restores the station’s full complement, enabling uninterrupted scientific research and international collaboration.

Key Highlights

• Crew Composition:
• Commander Jack Hathaway (NASA)
• Pilot Jessica Meir (NASA)
• Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot (ESA)
• Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos)
• Mission Duration: Six-month expedition as part of Expedition 74/75.
• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with successful first-stage landing at the new Landing Zone 40.
• Docking Timeline: Crew Dragon will orbit Earth for ~34 hours before docking with the ISS.
• Scientific Goals: Long-duration experiments in biology, materials science, and Earth observation.

Sources: NASA, NASASpaceFlight, Space.com, Reuters, Economic Times