Four New Astronauts Arrive at International Space Station

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 members will replace colleagues who had to be evacuated early last month due to a serious health issue with one of the astronauts.

Why it matters

This marks the first time NASA has had to medically evacuate astronauts from the International Space Station in 65 years of human spaceflight. The incident raised concerns about the health risks of long-duration space missions and the need for robust medical support and contingency planning.

The details

The new crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev. Meir and Fedyaev have previous experience on the space station, while Adenot is only the second French woman to fly in space. They will be staying on the station for 8-9 months.

  • The new crew arrived at the International Space Station on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Last month, one of the four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer suffered a serious health issue, prompting their early return to Earth on January 7, 2026.

The players

Jessica Meir

A NASA astronaut and marine biologist who previously spent time on the International Space Station in 2019, including participating in the first all-female spacewalk.

Sophie Adenot

A French military helicopter pilot and the second French woman to fly in space.

Andrei Fedyaev

A Russian cosmonaut and former military pilot who has also previously lived on the International Space Station.

Jack Hathaway

A NASA astronaut and captain in the U.S. Navy.

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What they’re saying

“Bonjour!”

— Sophie Adenot

“Let's get rolling.”

— Jessica Meir

What’s next

NASA has said it did not alter its preflight medical checks for the replacement astronauts, but the agency has not disclosed the identity or details of the health issue that led to the previous crew's early evacuation, citing medical privacy.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the health risks and medical challenges of long-duration space missions, and the need for robust contingency planning and medical support systems to ensure the safety and well-being of astronauts on the International Space Station.