SpaceX Crew Dragon Docks at International Space Station with New Astronauts

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, February 14, 2026, delivering a four-person crew for a long-duration mission. The docking, which occurred at 3:15 p.m. EST, marks the twelfth time NASA has flown a long-duration ISS team aboard a SpaceX launch vehicle and is a critical step in restoring the station to a full seven-person capacity.

Onboard the Dragon are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Following the docking, the crew initiated standard leak checks and pressurization procedures between the spacecraft and the station, preparing for hatch opening, which was scheduled for approximately 5:00 p.m. EST.

The arrival of Crew-12 is particularly significant following the curtailed mission of Crew-11 in mid-January. That mission was cut short due to a medical evacuation necessitated by the condition of one of its astronauts, leaving the ISS operating with a reduced crew. The new team will now join the three remaining members of Expedition 74 – cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergey Mikayev, and NASA astronaut Chris Williams – to resume full scientific operations.

SpaceX’s role in crewed spaceflight has become increasingly central to the ISS program. Founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, the company began transporting U.S. Astronauts to orbit in May 2020, ending a period of reliance on Russian Soyuz spacecraft for access to the station. The Falcon 9 rocket used for the Crew-12 mission demonstrated its reusability by successfully landing back at Cape Canaveral after deploying the Dragon capsule into orbit.

The Crew-12 mission is expected to last approximately eight months, during which the astronauts will conduct a wide range of scientific experiments. NASA has highlighted research into bacteria that cause pneumonia, with the aim of improving treatment methods on Earth, and studies examining the interactions between plants and nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. This latter research is focused on developing techniques for growing plants in space, a crucial element for long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit.

The successful docking occurred roughly 34 hours after the initial launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Friday, February 13, 2026. The Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST, accelerating to over 17,000 miles per hour before placing the crew capsule into orbit. The mission’s progress was closely monitored and broadcast live by NASA and SpaceX.

The return to a full seven-person crew is vital for maximizing the scientific output of the ISS. With more astronauts onboard, the station can support a greater number of experiments and maintenance activities, furthering our understanding of the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body and developing technologies for future exploration. The ISS remains a critical international collaboration, providing a unique platform for scientific discovery and technological innovation.

The Crew-12 astronauts’ arrival also represents a continuation of international cooperation in space. The inclusion of astronauts from the United States, Europe, and Russia underscores the ISS’s role as a symbol of peaceful collaboration despite geopolitical tensions. This collaborative spirit is essential for addressing the complex challenges of space exploration and ensuring the long-term sustainability of human presence in orbit.

Live coverage of the docking and subsequent hatch opening was available on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel, allowing the public to witness this significant milestone in space exploration. NASA encourages continued engagement with ISS activities through its website, social media channels, and the space station blog.