CAPE CANAVERAL, FL, Feb. 13, 2026 — NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-12 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Friday, marking the next phase of routine crew rotation to the International Space Station (ISS).

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft “Freedom” lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex-40, sending four astronauts into orbit for an eight-month mission aboard the ISS.

Mission Crew

The Crew-12 team is composed of:

• Commander Jessica Meir — NASA astronaut and veteran ISS flyer
• Pilot Jack Hathaway — NASA astronaut and former U.S. Navy fighter pilot
• Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot — ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut
• Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev — Roscosmos cosmonaut

This international team will dock with the ISS about 34 hours after launch, scheduled for Saturday afternoon local time. Once onboard, they will conduct scientific research, support station maintenance, and continue international collaboration in low-Earth orbit.

Context & Significance

Crew-12 replaces the previous Crew-11 mission, which returned to Earth early in January following a medical evacuation, the first of its kind in ISS history. This launch restores the ISS to a full complement of seven crew members.

The mission underscores ongoing U.S.–European–Russian cooperation on the ISS, which NASA plans to operate at least through the end of 2030. Research aboard this expedition includes studies on biology, fluid physics, and technologies that support Artemis lunar and Mars mission objectives.

Mission Details

• Launch Vehicle: SpaceX Falcon 9
• Spacecraft: Crew Dragon Freedom
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
• Expected ISS Docking: ~3:15 p.m. EST, Feb. 14, 2026