SpaceX Crew-12 Launches to Replenish ISS Crew After Medical Evacuation

On February 13, 2026, at 5:15 a.m. EST, SpaceX's Crew-12 mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew comprises NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. They are scheduled to dock with the ISS on February 14 at 3:15 p.m. EST.

This mission follows the early return of Crew-11 on January 14 due to a medical emergency, which left the ISS operating with a reduced crew of three. The arrival of Crew-12 will restore the station's full complement of seven astronauts.

The Crew-12 astronauts are embarking on a nine-month mission, extending the usual six-month rotation. Their tasks include testing advanced medical and exploratory technologies, such as AI-guided ultrasound and emergency IV fluid generation from water, in preparation for future lunar and Mars missions.

This launch marks the second crewed mission from Space Launch Complex 40, following Crew-9 in September 2024. The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" is expected to dock with the ISS on February 14 at 3:15 p.m. EST.

In related developments, NASA's Artemis II mission, intended to send astronauts on a lunar flyby, has been delayed until at least March 2026 due to a hydrogen fuel leak discovered during a wet dress rehearsal. The mission was originally scheduled for February but faced setbacks from technical issues and adverse weather conditions.