Ariane 6 Launch & ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot's ISS Mission

Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station rescheduled due to weather, will feature international team including first-time ESA astronaut

Feb. 11, 2026 at 12:23am

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The launch of Crew-12 to the International Space Station (ISS) has been rescheduled to no earlier than Thursday, February 12 at 5:38 a.m. EST due to unfavorable weather conditions. The mission will carry an international team aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft, including NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. This comes as the European Space Agency is also preparing to launch 32 satellites for Amazon's Leo constellation on the first flight of the Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch vehicle.

Why it matters

The Crew-12 mission represents an important milestone for international space cooperation, with the participation of astronauts from NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos. It also marks the first spaceflight for ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, who will conduct scientific research and experiments on the ISS. The launch of the Ariane 6 rocket is a significant development for the European space program, showcasing its capabilities in the commercial satellite launch market.

The details

The Crew-12 mission was originally scheduled for today but was rescheduled due to unfavorable weather conditions. The crew will launch aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft, which has previously supported the Crew-4 and Crew-9 missions. During their time on the ISS, the Crew-12 astronauts will focus on scientific and technological demonstrations to prepare for future deep-space exploration, including testing the European Space Agency's Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D).

  • The Crew-12 launch is now scheduled for no earlier than Thursday, February 12 at 5:38 a.m. EST.
  • The Ariane 6 launch carrying 32 satellites for Amazon's Leo constellation is also scheduled for Thursday, February 12.

The players

Jessica Meir

NASA astronaut who will serve as commander of the Crew-12 mission.

Jack Hathaway

NASA astronaut who will serve as the pilot for the Crew-12 mission.

Sophie Adenot

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut who will participate in her first spaceflight as part of the Crew-12 mission.

Andrey Fedyaev

Roscosmos cosmonaut who will be part of the Crew-12 international team.

Chris Williams

NASA astronaut who is currently the sole crew member on the International Space Station, following the early return of the Crew-11 astronauts.

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What they’re saying

“It was a little bit more hectic for us than it normally would have been, but we fit everything in that we needed to.”

— Jessica Meir, NASA astronaut

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Crew-12 mission and the Ariane 6 launch highlight the ongoing international collaboration in space exploration, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of the global space community in overcoming logistical challenges to maintain a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit and advance scientific research and technological development for future deep-space missions.