SpaceX Delivers New Crew to Restore Full Staffing at ISS

Four astronauts from three space agencies arrive at the International Space Station after previous medical evacuation.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The International Space Station (ISS) is once again operating at full capacity following the successful arrival of four new astronauts delivered by SpaceX on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The crew's arrival comes after an unexpected medical emergency forced the early return of a previous team, temporarily reducing the station's operational capabilities. This latest mission, designated Crew-12, marks SpaceX's 12th crew rotation flight to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Why it matters

The restoration of the ISS crew to its full complement of seven members allows for a resumption of the station's full research schedule, which is crucial for advancing critical technologies for future deep space exploration and providing benefits for life on Earth. The successful launch and docking of Crew-12 also demonstrate the continued reliability of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft, further strengthening the partnership between NASA and SpaceX.

The details

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Friday, February 13, 2026, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS's Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, completing a journey of over 277 miles (446km).

  • The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • The Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at approximately 3:15 p.m. EST.

The players

Jessica Meir

A NASA astronaut and marine biologist who previously visited the ISS in 2019 and participated in the first all-female spacewalk.

Andrey Fedyaev

A Roscosmos cosmonaut and former military pilot who is a veteran of spaceflight.

Sophie Adenot

A European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and military helicopter pilot, who is only the second French woman to travel to space.

Jack Hathaway

A NASA astronaut and captain in the U.S. Navy, making his first trip to the ISS.

SpaceX

An American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company that has been delivering astronauts to the ISS under NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

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What they’re saying

“Bonjour!”

— Sophie Adenot (NASA)

“Let's get rolling.”

— Jessica Meir (NASA)

What’s next

NASA is continuing to analyze the data from the previous medical incident to understand the cause and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The focus remains on ensuring the health and safety of all astronauts traveling to and from the ISS.

The takeaway

The successful launch and docking of Crew-12 represent a significant achievement for NASA and SpaceX, demonstrating the continued reliability of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The ongoing partnership between NASA and SpaceX is paving the way for a new era of space exploration, with the ISS at the forefront of these efforts.