CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A new crew arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on , replacing the astronauts who were unexpectedly returned to Earth last month due to a medical emergency. The SpaceX launch, conducted at the request of NASA, successfully delivered a team of astronauts from the United States, France, and Russia for an anticipated eight- to nine-month mission extending into the fall.
The crew – comprised of commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophia Adenot of France, and cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev – reached orbit to a celebratory message from SpaceX Launch Control. “It turns out Friday the 13th is a very lucky day,” the team heard upon reaching orbit, to which Commander Meir responded, “That was quite a ride.” The arrival of Crew 12 restores the ISS to its full staffing complement, allowing for the resumption of planned research, and operations.
The need for this rapid crew replacement arose from NASA’s first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. While the agency has not disclosed the nature of the illness that prompted the return of the previous crew, the incident highlighted the challenges of providing medical care in the unique environment of space. NASA confirmed that existing medical procedures were deemed sufficient, and no additional diagnostic equipment was added to the manifest for this launch. An ultrasound machine already onboard, typically used for research purposes, was utilized extensively during the initial medical assessment on .
The returning astronauts were immediately hospitalized after splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. This event marked the first time in 65 years of human spaceflight that a mission was curtailed for medical reasons, prompting a review of long-duration spaceflight medical protocols.
As missions extend further from Earth – particularly with the planned return to the Moon and eventual missions to Mars – the logistical complexities of medical support increase exponentially. NASA is actively working to improve the medical capabilities available on the ISS, but, as NASA’s Dina Contella explained, “We find many things that simply aren’t practical,” necessitating the ability to bring astronauts home when necessary.
The newly arrived crew will not only resume standard ISS operations but will also participate in several experiments designed to prepare for future deep-space missions. These include testing a new water filtration system capable of producing emergency intravenous fluids, evaluating an AI-assisted ultrasound system designed to reduce reliance on ground-based medical experts, and conducting ultrasound scans of their jugular veins as part of a study on blood clot formation in microgravity. They will also participate in simulated lunar landing exercises.
This mission holds particular significance for the European Space Agency, as astronaut Sophia Adenot is only the second French national to travel to space. Adenot was inspired to pursue a career as an astronaut after witnessing Claudie Haigneré’s flight to the Russian Mir space station in , and Haigneré was present at Cape Canaveral to offer her support before the launch.
Both Adenot and Jack Hathaway are first-time space travelers, while Jessica Meir and Andrei Fedyaev are seasoned ISS veterans. Prior to liftoff, Fedyaev led the crew in a traditional Russian countdown, shouting “Poyekhali!” – meaning “Let’s go!” – a phrase famously uttered by Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, in .
The mission also creates a unique opportunity for cross-generational connection within the astronaut corps. Commander Meir, who participated in the first all-female spacewalk in , will be able to communicate with Christina Koch, one of the four astronauts selected for the Artemis II mission, which is slated to orbit the Moon as early as . Meir expressed her excitement about the prospect, noting that she hadn’t anticipated witnessing a return to lunar missions during her career. “Now we’re right here, on the cusp of the Artemis II mission… It’s so cool to be an astronaut now, it’s so exciting.”
