Four Astronauts Arrive at International Space Station

New crew replaces NASA's evacuated astronauts due to health concerns.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The International Space Station has returned to full strength with the arrival of four new astronauts from the U.S., France, and Russia. The new crew was delivered by SpaceX a day after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, replacing colleagues who had to leave the ISS early due to health issues. This marks NASA's first-ever medical evacuation from the space station.

Why it matters

The arrival of the new crew ensures the ISS can continue critical research and operations without interruption after the unexpected departure of the previous astronauts. Medical evacuations from the space station are extremely rare, highlighting the challenges of maintaining a healthy and fully-staffed crew in the harsh environment of space.

The details

The four astronauts who arrived at the ISS on Saturday are part of a routine crew rotation. They will spend several months conducting scientific experiments and maintaining the orbiting laboratory. The previous crew had to leave the station early due to unspecified health concerns, prompting a rapid response from NASA and SpaceX to send up replacements.

  • The new crew launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida on February 14, 2026.
  • The new crew arrived at the International Space Station on February 15, 2026.

The players

International Space Station

The orbiting laboratory where astronauts from around the world conduct scientific research and maintain a continuous human presence in space.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the government agency responsible for the U.S. civil space program, aeronautics, and space research.

SpaceX

A private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk, responsible for launching the new crew to the ISS.

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The takeaway

The successful arrival of the new crew ensures the critical work and research on the International Space Station can continue uninterrupted, despite the unexpected departure of the previous astronauts due to health concerns. This highlights the importance of maintaining a robust crew rotation system to support long-term operations in the unique environment of space.