SpaceX Launches Crew to ISS for 8-Month Science Mission
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched early Friday, February 13, 2026, carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for an eight-month science expedition.
- The two-stage Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 5:15 a.m.
- The Crew-12 mission carries a diverse team of astronauts representing multiple international space agencies.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched early Friday, , carrying four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) for an eight-month science expedition. The launch, designated Crew-12, marks the 12th crew rotation mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, utilizing SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.
The two-stage Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at . Approximately nine minutes into the flight, the upper stage accelerated to over 17,000 miles per hour, placing the Crew Dragon capsule, named “Freedom,” into orbit. Notably, the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster successfully returned to Earth for a controlled landing, demonstrating SpaceX’s commitment to reusable rocket technology.
The Crew-12 mission carries a diverse team of astronauts representing multiple international space agencies. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, a marine biologist and veteran astronaut, and Jack Hathaway, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot making his first spaceflight, are joined by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew is scheduled to dock with the ISS on , at approximately , following a 34-hour journey.
The primary objective of the mission is to conduct a wide range of scientific, medical, and technical research in the microgravity environment of the ISS. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the importance of the mission, stating, “With Crew-12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation, and teamwork required for human spaceflight.”
Among the planned experiments is a study focused on pneumonia-causing bacteria, aiming to improve treatment strategies on Earth. Researchers will also investigate the interactions between plants and nitrogen-fixing microbes, with the goal of enhancing food production capabilities for future long-duration space missions. This research aligns with NASA’s broader efforts to develop technologies and strategies for deep space exploration, including eventual missions to the Moon, and Mars.
The Commercial Crew Program, a partnership between NASA and SpaceX, has been instrumental in restoring independent U.S. Access to the ISS following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft have proven to be reliable and cost-effective solutions for transporting crew and cargo to the orbiting laboratory. The success of Crew-12 further solidifies this partnership and paves the way for continued advancements in space exploration.
The Dragon spacecraft is designed to autonomously dock with the space station’s Harmony module. Once onboard, the crew will join the existing team of astronauts and cosmonauts, bringing the ISS population back to a full complement of seven. This increased crew size will allow for a more efficient execution of the planned research activities.
The Crew-12 mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body and the development of technologies necessary for sustaining life beyond Earth. The research conducted during this mission will not only benefit future space explorers but also has the potential to yield valuable insights and innovations that can improve life here on Earth.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s ability to land and be reused is a key component of SpaceX’s strategy to lower the cost of space access. This reusability significantly reduces the overall expense of launching missions, making space exploration more accessible and sustainable. The successful landing of the booster following the Crew-12 launch demonstrates the maturity and reliability of this technology.
The crew will spend approximately eight months aboard the ISS, conducting experiments and maintaining the station’s systems. Their work will contribute to a vast body of knowledge about living and working in space, which is essential for planning future missions to more distant destinations. The data collected during their stay will be analyzed by scientists around the world, furthering our understanding of the universe and our place within it.