SpaceX Launches Crew-12 to International Space Station

A New Era of Collaborative Space Exploration

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched early this morning from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying a four-person international crew en route to the International Space Station (ISS) for an eight-month scientific mission. This marks the twelfth long-duration expedition to the ISS facilitated by NASA using a SpaceX launch system.

Why it matters

The Crew-12 mission highlights the growing commercialization of space travel, with companies like SpaceX playing a crucial role in transporting astronauts to the ISS. It also underscores the continued international collaboration in space exploration, with the ISS serving as a model for how nations can work together to achieve common goals.

The details

The mission features a diverse team of astronauts, including NASA's Jessica Meir, a veteran astronaut known for participating in the first all-female spacewalk, as well as a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, a French helicopter pilot, and a Russian cosmonaut. Notably, this launch saw the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket complete its descent and land within the Space Launch Complex 40 perimeter at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, demonstrating the reliability and reusability of the SpaceX launch system.

  • The Crew-12 mission launched early this morning (February 13, 2026) from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • The crew will dock with the ISS after a 34-hour journey.

The players

Jessica Meir

A 48-year-old NASA astronaut and marine biologist who is the commander of the Crew-12 mission. She is known for participating in the first all-female spacewalk.

Jack Hathaway

A former U.S. Navy fighter pilot making his first trip to space as part of the Crew-12 mission.

Sophie Adenot

A French astronaut and experienced helicopter pilot representing Europe on the Crew-12 mission.

Andrey Fedyaev

A Russian cosmonaut and veteran of previous missions, representing Russia on the Crew-12 mission.

SpaceX

An American aerospace company that successfully launched the Crew-12 mission using its Falcon 9 rocket.

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What they’re saying

“This mission highlights the growing commercialization of space travel and the continued international collaboration in space exploration.”

— Jessica Meir, Crew-12 Mission Commander

What’s next

The Crew-12 mission will focus on a robust scientific program, including medical and biotechnological research in microgravity. This includes analyzing bacteria that cause pneumonia to improve treatments on Earth and experiments on plant-microorganism interactions to enhance food production in space.

The takeaway

The Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station represents a significant milestone in the ongoing collaboration between nations and the commercialization of space travel. The diverse crew and the successful landing of the Falcon 9 rocket demonstrate the progress being made in space exploration, with potential benefits for scientific research and technological advancements that can improve life on Earth.