Four astronauts from three different international space agencies are gearing up for a launch to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission, which signifies the next long-term scientific expedition aboard the orbiting laboratory. The launch is set to occur no earlier than February 15, 2026.
The crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Meir will take on the role of spacecraft commander, with Hathaway serving as the pilot, while Adenot and Fedyaev will function as mission specialists. Once they arrive at the station, Crew-12 will integrate with the Expedition 74 crew that is already engaged in research in orbit.
Crew-12 is the 12th operational crew rotation mission conducted by SpaceX under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Throughout their mission, the astronauts will perform a variety of scientific experiments and technology demonstrations aimed at enhancing human spaceflight and facilitating future exploration missions to the Moon and Mars. Many of these investigations are also anticipated to provide advantages for life on Earth, including improvements in human health, materials science, and technology development.
For Meir, this mission signifies her second journey to the ISS. She previously spent 205 days in orbit during Expeditions 61 and 62 and made history by completing the first three all-female spacewalks alongside NASA astronaut Christina Koch. Since her return to Earth, Meir has taken on several leadership roles within NASA, including positions that support commercial crew missions and the development of lunar landing systems.
Hathaway will be embarking on his inaugural spaceflight. As a U.S. Navy commander and test pilot, he brings a wealth of aviation experience to the mission, having logged over 2,500 flight hours across 30 different aircraft types. Chosen as an astronaut candidate in 2021, Hathaway has a solid background in physics, flight dynamics, and national security studies.
The mission also marks a first spaceflight for ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot. A trained engineer and former helicopter test pilot, Adenot has logged more than 3,000 flight hours and brings expertise in human factors engineering and flight dynamics. Her participation underscores ESA’s ongoing role in ISS research and international cooperation in space.
Fedyaev, representing Roscosmos, will be completing his second long-duration mission aboard the ISS. He previously flew on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 mission in 2023, spending 186 days in orbit as part of Expedition 69. A veteran military pilot and test cosmonaut, Fedyaev has received several honors for his contributions to spaceflight.
For more than 25 years, the International Space Station has hosted continuous human presence, serving as a unique laboratory for research that cannot be conducted on Earth. NASA views the station as a critical platform for understanding the effects of long-duration spaceflight, developing new technologies, and enabling a growing commercial presence in low Earth orbit. As private companies expand human spaceflight services, NASA is increasingly focusing on deep-space exploration through its Artemis program, with the long-term goal of sending humans to Mars.
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