NASA Launches Crew-12 to International Space Station Wednesday
NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the Crew-12 mission on Wednesday, February 11, with liftoff targeted for 6:01 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft will carry four crew members to the International Space Station for an eight-month science mission.
Crew Members and Mission Details
The Crew-12 mission represents an international collaboration, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev to the orbiting laboratory. Meir will serve as spacecraft commander while Hathaway acts as pilot, with Adenot and Fedyaev serving as mission specialists.
The Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS approximately 28.5 hours after launch, with docking targeted for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 12. The crew will spend roughly two hours after docking before hatches open to greet the station’s existing skeleton crew of three.
Why This Mission Matters
The launch has been accelerated from its originally scheduled February 15 date to February 11 to address critical staffing needs. The International Space Station currently operates with only three astronauts aboard following a medical evacuation from the Crew-11 mission in January. This reduced staffing constrains routine maintenance and scientific research operations.
By bringing the crew complement back to seven astronauts, Crew-12 will restore normal ISS operations and enable the full range of scientific research and maintenance activities that require adequate personnel.
Pre-Launch Preparations Complete
NASA and its partners conducted a Flight Readiness Review on February 6, which confirmed a “go” for launch after evaluating the readiness of SpaceX’s crew transportation system, the space station, and all partner agencies. The review included assessment of a recent Falcon 9 second stage issue from a Starlink mission, but NASA and SpaceX determined there is no increased risk to crew safety during ascent, as crewed missions utilize a different deorbit profile.
The crew members arrived at Kennedy Space Center on February 7 and have been in quarantine throughout their final preparations. The SpaceX booster rolled to the launch pad on February 8, and the crew completed a full dress rehearsal of launch day activities on February 9, including putting on spacesuits, visiting the launch pad, and practicing their positions in the Dragon spacecraft.
Commercial Crew Program Milestone
Crew-12 marks NASA’s 12th crew rotation mission and the 13th human spaceflight mission to the space station supported by Dragon spacecraft since 2020, as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA will provide live coverage of prelaunch, launch, and docking activities for public viewing.