Crew-12 Docks with ISS: 8-Month Experiments Begin

Valentine's Day Docking: Crew-12 Embarks on Eight-Month ISS Science Expedition

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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After a journey from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the four members of the Crew-12 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on February 14, 2026. The crew - NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev - will spend the next eight months conducting a variety of scientific experiments aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Why it matters

The successful launch and docking of Crew-12 highlight the growing importance of commercial partnerships in space exploration. NASA's Commercial Crew Program, utilizing companies like SpaceX, is ensuring continued access to the ISS and paving the way for future deep space missions. The increasing frequency of crewed missions to the ISS, facilitated by companies like SpaceX, is expanding opportunities for scientific research in microgravity.

The details

The SpaceX Dragon capsule, named Freedom, autonomously docked with the space-facing port of the ISS's Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET. While the docking was automated, pilot Jack Hathaway was prepared to capture manual control if necessary. This marks the 20th human spaceflight mission launched by SpaceX and the 51st time a Dragon spacecraft has docked with or visited the ISS. The Crew-12 astronauts will be joining Expedition 74, the current crew onboard the ISS. They were initially expected to be greeted by the members of Crew-11, but that mission was cut short due to a medical issue affecting one of its crew members. Details regarding the medical condition and the individual involved have not been publicly released.

  • The SpaceX Dragon capsule, named Freedom, autonomously docked with the space-facing port of the ISS's Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. ET on February 14, 2026.
  • Crew-12 will spend approximately eight months on the International Space Station.

The players

Jessica Meir

NASA astronaut.

Jack Hathaway

NASA astronaut.

Sophie Adenot

ESA astronaut.

Andrey Fedyaev

Roscosmos cosmonaut.

SpaceX

An American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company.

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What they’re saying

“Prior to boarding the ISS, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot requested a private medical conference call with NASA.”

— Sophie Adenot, ESA astronaut (newsy-today.com)

The takeaway

The successful launch and docking of Crew-12 highlight the growing importance of commercial partnerships in space exploration, ensuring continued access to the ISS and paving the way for future deep space missions. The increasing frequency of crewed missions to the ISS is expanding opportunities for scientific research in microgravity, with implications for advancements in medicine, materials science, and our understanding of the universe.