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 on Saturday, February 14, 2026. This follows the early return of the previous crew due to a medical emergency, marking NASA's first in-orbit medical evacuation in its 65-year history of human spaceflight.

The new crew, transported by SpaceX, includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev. Meir and Fedyaev have prior spaceflight experience, while Adenot becomes only the second French woman to fly in space, and Hathaway is a U.S. Navy captain. They are scheduled to remain aboard the ISS for approximately eight to nine months.

The previous crew's early departure was prompted by a serious health issue affecting one astronaut, whose identity remains undisclosed due to privacy concerns. This incident left the ISS operating with a reduced crew of three, leading NASA to pause spacewalks and limit research activities. The new arrivals are expected to resume normal operations and continue the station's scientific missions.

NASA has stated that no changes were made to the preflight medical screening process for the new crew, despite the recent health incident. The agency continues to prioritize crew safety and mission success as it manages operations aboard the ISS.