NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Prepares for Launch to Space Station

The crew completes suit-up and pre-launch rituals ahead of their mission to the International Space Station.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 members have completed their suit-up and pre-launch procedures at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, are set to launch to the International Space Station on Friday, February 13, 2026 aboard a SpaceX rocket and Dragon spacecraft.

Why it matters

This mission is the 12th crew rotation to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to facilitate human exploration of the Moon and Mars. The crew will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations during their eight-month stay on the orbiting laboratory.

The details

Before leaving the Astronaut Crew Quarters, the Crew-12 members played a traditional card game, with the commander, Jessica Meir, losing the game to use up her 'bad luck' and clear the way for a safe and successful mission. The crew then proceeded to Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for launch.

  • The crew members completed their suit-up and pre-launch procedures at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building.
  • The crew is set to launch to the International Space Station on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5:15 a.m. EST.

The players

Jessica Meir

NASA astronaut and commander of the Crew-12 mission.

Jack Hathaway

NASA astronaut and pilot of the Crew-12 mission.

Sophie Adenot

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and mission specialist of the Crew-12 mission.

Andrey Fedyaev

Roscosmos cosmonaut and mission specialist of the Crew-12 mission.

SpaceX

The private aerospace company that will launch the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Moments ago, the crew members played the traditional card game. The commander — NASA astronaut Jessica Meir — plays a card game and must lose before she and the team can leave Astronaut Crew Quarters, losing the game uses up all the commander's bad luck and clears the way for a safe, successful mission.”

— NASA (nasa.gov)

What’s next

The Crew-12 mission is set to launch to the International Space Station on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 5:15 a.m. EST.

The takeaway

This mission is a significant milestone in NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which aims to facilitate human exploration of the Moon and Mars. The diverse crew of Crew-12 will conduct important scientific research and technology demonstrations during their eight-month stay on the orbiting laboratory, contributing to our understanding of space and benefiting people on Earth.