Four astronauts prepare for a pivotal journey to the International Space Station
A multinational crew is preparing to depart Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. As the Crew-12 mission approaches its launch window, the focus shifts from ground preparations to the complex scientific experiments and technological demonstrations that will define their time in orbit.
The upcoming SpaceX Crew-12 mission represents a collaborative effort between NASA, SpaceX, and international agencies including the ESA and Roscosmos. The crew is composed of four specialists: NASA commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, ESA mission specialist Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos mission specialist Andrey Fedyaev. This mission is slated to launch no earlier than 5:38 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 12, 2026, utilizing a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
For commander Jessica Meir, this mission marks her second journey to the orbiting laboratory. A highly accomplished biologist with a doctorate from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Meir previously served as a flight engineer for 205 days during Expedition 61/6 overlap. Her previous orbital activities included participating in the first three all-female spacewalks, which lasted a combined 21 hours and 44 minutes. Joining her is Jack Hathaway, a U.S. Navy commander and member of the 2021 astronaut class, who will be undertaking his first flight.
The mission's objectives extend beyond simple transit. While docked at the International Space Station, the crew will execute various technology demonstrations and scientific experiments. These activities are designed to provide benefits for both life on Earth and future orbital operations, serving as a stepping stone for humanity's broader ambitions to reach the Moon and Mars. As the launch date moved from an original target of February 15 to the current window, NASA and its partners have continued to refine the mission's final preparations.
Source: NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Prelaunch News Conference (Feb. 9, 2026)
