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New NASA Crew Rockets to International Space Station After Medical Evacuation
Four astronauts from the U.S., France, and Russia will replace evacuated crew members on the ISS.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
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A new crew of four astronauts from the U.S., France, and Russia rocketed toward the International Space Station on Friday to replace the astronauts who returned to Earth early in NASA's first medical evacuation. The replacements, including Americans Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France's Sophie Adenot, and Russia's Andrei Fedyaev, are expected to arrive at the orbiting lab on Saturday and stay for an eight- to nine-month mission.
Why it matters
This marks the first time in 65 years of human spaceflight that NASA has had to cut short a mission for medical reasons, raising questions about the challenges of long-duration space travel and the need to improve medical capabilities on the space station. The new crew will test upgrades to the station's medical equipment as NASA prepares for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
The details
The new crew launched aboard a SpaceX rocket as soon as possible at NASA's request, filling the vacancies left by the astronauts who were medically evacuated last month. NASA has not revealed the identity or health issue of the ill astronaut who prompted the early return to Earth. The new arrivals will take on duties that had been deferred during the staffing shortage, including conducting spacewalks and other research.
- The new crew launched on Friday, February 13, 2026.
- The new crew is expected to arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
- The new crew's mission is expected to last eight to nine months, until the fall of 2026.
The players
Jessica Meir
An American astronaut making her second trip to the International Space Station.
Jack Hathaway
An American astronaut new to space.
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.
Claudie Haignere
A French astronaut who was the first French woman to fly to the Russian space station Mir in 1996, inspiring Adenot to become an astronaut.
What they’re saying
“It turns out Friday the 13th is a very lucky day.”
— SpaceX Launch Control (Reuters)
“That was quite a ride.”
— Jessica Meir, Crew Commander (Reuters)
“Bon vol, and Ad astra.”
— Claudie Haignere, Former French Astronaut (Reuters)
What’s next
The new crew will test upgrades to the space station's medical equipment, including a filter designed to turn drinking water into emergency IV fluid, an ultrasound system that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality, and perform ultrasound scans on their jugular veins in a blood clot study. They will also demonstrate their moon-landing skills in a simulated test.
The takeaway
This mission highlights the challenges of long-duration space travel and the need for improved medical capabilities on the International Space Station. As NASA prepares for future missions to the Moon and Mars, the new crew's research will help advance the agency's understanding of how to keep astronauts healthy in space.
