New Astronauts Launch to International Space Station After Medical Evacuation

NASA had to put spacewalks on hold and defer other duties while awaiting the arrival of the replacement crew.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A new crew of four astronauts from the U.S., France, and Russia has launched to the International Space Station to replace the astronauts who returned to Earth early last month in NASA's first medical evacuation. The replacement crew will join three other astronauts already on the station and bring it back to full staffing.

Why it matters

The medical evacuation of an unidentified astronaut last month forced NASA to temporarily suspend some space station operations. The arrival of the new crew will allow the station to resume its full schedule of research and other activities.

The details

The new crew, consisting of NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France's Sophie Adenot, and Russia's Andrei Fedyaev, launched on a SpaceX rocket and are expected to arrive at the space station on Saturday. They will stay on the station for an expected eight to nine months. NASA did not require any additional medical checks or new diagnostic equipment for the crew before launch, relying on procedures already in place.

  • The new crew launched on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The crew is expected to arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday.

The players

Jessica Meir

A NASA astronaut making her second trip to the International Space Station.

Jack Hathaway

A NASA astronaut new to spaceflight.

Sophie Adenot

A French astronaut, only the second French woman to launch to space.

Andrei Fedyaev

A Russian astronaut making his second trip to the International Space Station.

Dina Contella

NASA's deputy program manager for the International Space Station.

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What they’re saying

“It turns out Friday the 13th is a very lucky day.”

— SpaceX Launch Control (pbs.org)

“That was quite a ride.”

— Jessica Meir, Crew Commander (pbs.org)

“Bon vol, and Ad astra.”

— Claudie Haignere, Former French astronaut (pbs.org)

What’s next

The new crew will test a filter designed to turn drinking water into emergency IV fluid, try out an ultrasound system that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality, and perform ultrasound scans on their jugular veins in a blood clot study.

The takeaway

This medical evacuation highlights the challenges of providing healthcare in space and the need for continued innovation in medical technology to support longer-duration space missions, including future trips to the Moon.