Launch Success February 13, 2026 /

SpaceX Crew-12 Launches to ISS — Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, Fedyaev Aboard Dragon Freedom

NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 launched on February 13, 2026 at 5:15 a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral SLC-40, aboard Dragon "Freedom" on a Falcon 9. Commander Jessica Meir and pilot Jack Hathaway (NASA), mission specialists Sophie Adenot (ESA — Epsilon mission, first 2022 ESA career astronaut to fly) and Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos) docked at ISS on February 14 at 3:15 p.m. EST in a Valentine's Day arrival. The mission restored ISS to a standard seven-person crew following the early medical evacuation of Crew-11 in January. Crew-12 will conduct eight months of science including pneumonia bacteria cardiovascular research, on-demand IV fluid generation for future space missions, and plant health monitoring.

Why it matters

Crew-12 is operationally routine — but Sophie Adenot's "Epsilon" mission carries real symbolic weight. She is the first astronaut from ESA's 2022 class to fly, which includes ESA's largest-ever intake of career astronauts. Their ascent through the training pipeline is the leading indicator of Europe's human spaceflight ambition beyond ISS. ESA needs these people flying and experienced before Lunar Gateway or any commercial station mission.

Details

Mission

Vehicle: Falcon 9 + Dragon Freedom
Crew: Jessica MeirJack HathawaySophie AdenotAndrey Fedyaev
Launch site: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida

Coverage

2 reports

npr.org ·Feb 14, 2026
Four people on NASA's Crew-12 arrive at International Space Station
NPR covers the Feb 14 docking. Meir at the ISS welcome ceremony: "We have so many countries represented, so many backgrounds, so many disciplines, and we are so excited to be here and to get to work." The mission replaces Crew-11, which departed ahead of schedule due to a medical evacuation — marking the first time in US space history a mission was cut short for medical reasons.

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nasa.gov ·Feb 13, 2026
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Launches to International Space Station
Official NASA press release on Crew-12 launch at 5:15 a.m. EST Feb 13. Crew: Meir (commander, second flight), Hathaway (pilot, first flight), Adenot (ESA Epsilon mission, first flight), Fedyaev (Roscosmos, second flight). ISS restored to standard 7-person crew after Crew-11's early medical evacuation in January. Eight-month science mission including bacteria cardiovascular research, IV fluid generation for deep space, and plant health monitoring.

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