NASA, SpaceX Launch Astronauts to Space Station on Friday the 13th

The Crew-12 mission marks the first time NASA has launched a crewed mission on the unlucky date.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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NASA and SpaceX successfully launched three astronauts and a cosmonaut to the International Space Station on Friday, February 13th, 2026. The Crew-12 mission lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the first time NASA has conducted a crewed mission on a Friday the 13th. The crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

Why it matters

The successful launch on Friday the 13th defies superstition and demonstrates NASA and SpaceX's continued ability to safely and reliably send astronauts to the International Space Station. This mission is also notable as the second spaceflight for both Meir and Fedyaev, and the first for Hathaway and Adenot.

The details

The Crew-12 mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The nine Merlin 1D engines on the Falcon 9 roared to life at 5:15 a.m. EST, and the Dragon Freedom spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket's upper stage minutes later. This was the 20th human spaceflight mission for SpaceX to date.

  • The Crew-12 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 UTC) on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The crew is scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station at approximately 3:15 p.m. EST (2015 UTC) on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Jessica Meir

NASA astronaut and commander of the Crew-12 mission, making her second trip to space.

Jack Hathaway

NASA astronaut, making his first spaceflight on the Crew-12 mission.

Sophie Adenot

European Space Agency astronaut, making her first spaceflight on the Crew-12 mission.

Andrey Fedyaev

Roscosmos cosmonaut, making his second trip to space on the Crew-12 mission.

Jared Isaacman

NASA Administrator, a veteran of two commercial spaceflights himself.

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What they’re saying

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

— SpaceX Launch Director (spaceflightnow.com)

“Thank you team, that was quite a ride. Thank you, SpaceX, Falcon 9, and NASA teams. We have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us. When we gaze at our planet from above, it is immediately clear that everything is interconnected.”

— Jessica Meir, Crew-12 Commander, NASA Astronaut (spaceflightnow.com)

“Felt like I might've had the second best seat in the house today going into the operations. It was just wonderful to see everything in motion. Felt very privileged to be here alongside an extraordinary team preparing for an excellent mission, like Crew-12. Great to watch it.”

— Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator (spaceflightnow.com)

What’s next

The Crew-12 astronauts are scheduled to arrive at the International Space Station on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 to begin an eight-month mission. Their arrival will mark the start of a busy period for the orbiting outpost, with several cargo vehicle departures and arrivals planned in the coming months.

The takeaway

The successful launch of Crew-12 on Friday the 13th demonstrates NASA and SpaceX's continued ability to safely and reliably send astronauts to the International Space Station, defying superstition and further solidifying their partnership in human spaceflight.