International Space Station Welcomes New Crew: A Diverse Team's Journey to Space

Four astronauts from NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos arrive at the orbiting laboratory amid an unexpected early departure of the previous crew.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:36am

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A highly structured abstract painting in soft earthy tones of blue, green, and orange, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the global cooperation and scientific structures of the International Space Station.The International Space Station, a symbol of global cooperation and scientific exploration, welcomes a diverse new crew to continue groundbreaking research in the microgravity environment of space.Cape Canaveral Today

The International Space Station (ISS) has welcomed a new crew of four astronauts - NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency's Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Their arrival on the Dragon spacecraft marks the end of a journey that began with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral. The new Crew-12 members have joined the existing crew of three, restoring the ISS to its standard seven-person occupancy after the previous crew's unexpected early departure due to a medical emergency.

Why it matters

The arrival of the diverse Crew-12 team represents the continued international cooperation and scientific exploration that defines the ISS program. However, the early departure of the previous crew has raised questions about transparency and privacy concerns in space missions, sparking debate about balancing scientific progress with astronaut safety and wellbeing.

The details

The new Crew-12 members - NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev - docked their Dragon spacecraft at the ISS on Saturday at 3:16 p.m. ET. Their journey began with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, which was delayed by two days due to high winds. The launch also came after a recent Falcon 9 mishap during an uncrewed Starlink deployment, prompting a thorough review by SpaceX and the FAA before clearing the way for the successful liftoff.

  • The new Crew-12 members docked their spacecraft at the ISS on Saturday at 3:16 p.m. ET.
  • The Crew-12 mission was originally supposed to overlap with the outgoing Crew-11, but a medical emergency forced the previous crew to return to Earth early.

The players

Jessica Meir

A NASA astronaut and veteran of 205 days in space, who made history in 2019 with the first all-female spacewalks alongside Christina Koch.

Jack Hathaway

A NASA astronaut making his first spaceflight.

Sophie Adenot

A European Space Agency astronaut making her first spaceflight, who described the journey as 'mind-blowing' and the view of Earth from space as 'breathtaking'.

Andrey Fedyaev

A Russian cosmonaut returning for his second mission to the ISS.

Sergey Kud-Sverchkov

A Roscosmos crew member already on board the ISS, who eagerly awaited the arrival of Crew-12.

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What they’re saying

“We're so excited to be here and get to work.”

— Jessica Meir

“Seeing Earth from up here—no lines, no borders—it's breathtaking.”

— Sophie Adenot

“This is a promise kept by five nations, sustained by trust, science, and curiosity. Up here, cooperation isn't just possible—it's essential.”

— Jessica Meir

What’s next

During their eight-month stay, Crew-12 will tackle groundbreaking experiments: studying food production in space, exploring microgravity's effects on blood flow, and researching pneumonia-causing bacteria. These projects will not only advance lunar and Martian missions but also benefit life on Earth.

The takeaway

The arrival of the diverse Crew-12 team at the International Space Station represents the continued international cooperation and scientific exploration that defines the ISS program. However, the unexpected early departure of the previous crew has raised questions about transparency and privacy concerns in space missions, sparking debate about balancing scientific progress with astronaut safety and wellbeing.