ISS Crew Restored to Full Strength After SpaceX Delivery

NASA's first medical evacuation prompts swift response and successful crew rotation

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The International Space Station (ISS) has returned to full operational capacity following the arrival of four new astronauts on Saturday, February 14, 2026. The crew, delivered by SpaceX, replaces colleagues who were forced to return to Earth early due to a medical issue, marking NASA's first medical evacuation in its 65-year history of human spaceflight.

Why it matters

Maintaining a full crew is crucial for maximizing the scientific output of the ISS, a unique microgravity laboratory enabling research in a wide range of fields. The incident that prompted the early return of the previous crew underscores the inherent risks of long-duration spaceflight and will likely prompt a review of medical procedures.

The details

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral on Friday, February 13, 2026, carrying four new astronauts who successfully docked with the ISS the following day. The arrival of Crew-12 restores the ISS to its full complement of seven crew members, allowing for a resumption of the station's full research schedule after a period of reduced operations.

  • 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.

Jack Hathaway

A U.S. Navy captain and first-time space traveler.

Sophie Adenot

A European Space Agency astronaut and the second French woman to fly in space, a milestone celebrated by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Andrey Fedyaev

A Roscosmos cosmonaut and veteran of previous ISS missions.

SpaceX

The private aerospace company that provided the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to transport the Crew-12 astronauts to the ISS.

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What they’re saying

“Bonjour!”

— Sophie Adenot (Instagram)

What’s next

NASA has stated that it did not alter its preflight medical checks for the Crew-12 astronauts, but the incident that prompted the early return of the previous crew will likely prompt a review of medical screening procedures and in-flight medical capabilities.

The takeaway

The successful docking of Crew-12 and the return of the ISS to full strength represent a significant achievement for the international space community, demonstrating the resilience of the ISS program and the continued commitment of partner nations to exploring the frontiers of space.