NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Explores Gravity Adaptation

Astronauts study how the body adjusts to low-gravity environments during long-duration space missions

Feb. 6, 2026 at 12:07am

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NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission is preparing to launch for a long-duration science mission aboard the International Space Station. During the mission, select crew members will participate in human health studies focused on understanding how astronauts' bodies adapt to the low-gravity environment of space, including a new study examining subtle changes in blood flow.

Why it matters

The experiments will help NASA plan for extended stays in space and future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. Understanding how the body adapts to low gravity is crucial for ensuring astronaut health and safety during long-duration spaceflight.

The details

The studies include astronauts performing ultrasounds of their blood vessels to study altered circulation and completing simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions. A new study called Venous Flow will examine whether time aboard the space station increases the chance of crew members developing blood clots, as weightlessness can cause bodily fluids to shift toward the head and potentially alter circulation.

  • The SpaceX Crew-12 mission is preparing to launch for the International Space Station.

The players

Andrey Fedyaev

Roscosmos cosmonaut.

Jack Hathaway

NASA astronaut.

Jessica Meir

NASA astronaut.

Sophie Adenot

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut.

Dr. Jason Lytle

Physiologist at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston who is leading the Venous Flow study.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to use this information to better understand how fluid shifts affect clotting risk, so that when astronauts go on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, we can build the best strategies to keep them safe.”

— Dr. Jason Lytle, Physiologist at NASA's Johnson Space Center (Mirage News)

The takeaway

The studies conducted by NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission will provide crucial insights into how the human body adapts to the low-gravity environment of space, which will help ensure the health and safety of astronauts during long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.