New Astronauts Arrive at ISS Following Medical Evacuation

The International Space Station (ISS) has returned to full operational capacity with the arrival of four new astronauts. The crew, comprising NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France's Sophie Adenot, and Russia's Andrey Fedyaev, was delivered by SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft on February 14, 2026, following a launch from Cape Canaveral the previous day.

This mission comes after NASA's first in-orbit medical evacuation in 65 years, which saw the early return of four astronauts due to a serious health issue affecting one crew member. The identity of the affected astronaut has not been disclosed, and NASA has cited privacy concerns in withholding further details.

The new crew members bring a wealth of experience and diversity to the ISS. Jessica Meir, a marine biologist, previously participated in the first all-female spacewalk during her 2019 mission. Andrey Fedyaev, a former military pilot, has also been to the ISS before. Sophie Adenot, a military helicopter pilot, becomes only the second French woman to fly in space, while Jack Hathaway serves as a captain in the U.S. Navy.

Upon docking, the new arrivals were greeted warmly by the existing crew. Video footage shows the astronauts exchanging hugs and high-fives in the zero-gravity environment. Sophie Adenot greeted the crew with a cheerful "Bonjour," and Jessica Meir added, "Let's get rolling."

The crew is scheduled to spend approximately eight to nine months aboard the ISS, during which they will conduct various research activities and maintain the station's operations. NASA has stated that no changes were made to the medical screening process for this mission, despite the previous health incident.