NASA Crew-12 Launches to ISS; SpaceX Falcon 9 Returns to Flight

CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the NASA Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Feb. 13, 2026, marking a critical return to flight for the launch vehicle and the restoration of a full crew complement aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The mission lifts off following a brief grounding of the Falcon 9 fleet caused by a technical issue with the rocket's second stage. This launch clears a significant hurdle for SpaceX and NASA, resuming regular rotation flights after the anomaly prompted a safety review.

The Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:15 a.m. EST, propelling the Dragon spacecraft and its four-person crew into orbit. The spacecraft is scheduled to dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. EST on Feb. 14.

Restoring Station Staffing

The arrival of Crew-12 will bring the ISS population back to its standard operational level of seven crew members. The station has operated with a reduced crew since Jan. 14, 2026, when NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission departed earlier than originally planned. That early departure left only three personnel on board: NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, who are part of Expedition 74.

Crew-12 consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. They will join the Expedition 74 crew to begin a six-month science expedition.

“With Crew-12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation, and teamwork required for human spaceflight,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

Return to Flight

This launch was closely watched by industry analysts as it represents the Falcon 9's return to service. The fleet had been grounded briefly following a "second stage issue" detected during a previous non-human spaceflight mission. The nature of the anomaly required SpaceX to halt operations to conduct an investigation and implement corrective actions before NASA cleared the vehicle for human spaceflight.

With the rocket performing nominally during the Feb. 13 ascent, the focus now shifts to the Dragon spacecraft's rendezvous with the station. SpaceX mission control in Hawthorne, California, is monitoring a series of automatic maneuvers to guide the capsule to the ISS, while NASA monitors operations from Houston.

Mission Objectives

During their tenure aboard the ISS, the Crew-12 members will conduct research aimed at preparing for future deep space missions. Key experiments include the study of pneumonia-causing bacteria to improve cardiovascular treatments and the development of on-demand intravenous fluid generation systems—a critical capability for missions to the Moon and Mars where resupply is difficult. Additional research will focus on how physical characteristics affect blood flow during spaceflight and automated plant health monitoring.

Hatch opening is scheduled for approximately 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 14, followed by a welcome ceremony aboard the station.