SpaceX Crew-12 Mission Restores Full Staffing to International Space Station
The International Space Station returned to full staffing with the arrival of four astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew-12 mission, following a successful docking on February 14, 2026.
On February 14, 2026, the International Space Station (ISS) returned to full staffing with the arrival of four astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew-12 mission. The Crew Dragon capsule "Freedom" docked with the ISS's Harmony module at 3:15 p.m. EST, following a 34-hour journey from Earth.
The Crew-12 team comprises NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Meir and Fedyaev are on their second spaceflights, while Hathaway and Adenot are making their first journeys to space.
This mission follows the early return of Crew-11 in January due to a medical evacuation, which left the ISS operating with a reduced crew. The arrival of Crew-12 restores the station's full complement of seven crew members, enhancing its operational capacity.
During their approximately nine-month stay, the Crew-12 astronauts will conduct various scientific experiments and maintenance tasks. Their mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, aimed at maintaining a continuous human presence aboard the ISS.