NASA's Crew-12 Astronauts Launch to International Space Station

The four-person crew will conduct research and maintenance during their eight-month mission.

Feb. 13, 2026 at 4:23pm

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NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station on Friday morning from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The four astronauts on board will replace a previous crew that had to cut their mission short due to a medical issue. Crew-12 will spend eight months on the ISS conducting scientific experiments and maintenance.

Why it matters

The Crew-12 mission is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous human presence on the International Space Station, which enables critical research and technology demonstrations to support future deep space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

The details

The Crew-12 spacecraft is carrying four astronauts: NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency's Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos' Andrey Fedyaev. Their research on board the ISS will include studies on pneumonia treatment, intravenous fluid generation, automated plant monitoring, nitrogen-fixing microbes for space food, and the effects of spaceflight on blood flow.

  • The launch took place at 5:15 a.m. on February 13, 2026 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
  • Crew-12 is scheduled to spend eight months on the International Space Station.

The players

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

SpaceX

SpaceX is a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk.

Jessica Meir

NASA astronaut who is part of the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station.

Jack Hathaway

NASA astronaut who is part of the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station.

Sophie Adenot

European Space Agency astronaut who is part of the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station.

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What they’re saying

“The Crew-12 mission is an important step forward in our efforts to maintain a continuous human presence on the International Space Station and conduct critical research to support future deep space exploration.”

— Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator

What’s next

The Crew-12 astronauts are scheduled to remain on the International Space Station for an eight-month science mission. Upon completion of their mission, they will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

The takeaway

The successful launch of Crew-12 demonstrates NASA and SpaceX's continued commitment to the International Space Station program, which enables important scientific research and technological advancements that will help pave the way for future human exploration of the Moon and Mars.