**Title:** A New Chapter Begins at the International Space Station with Crew-12 Mission In an exhilarating predawn event, four astronauts from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission embarked on their journey to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch, which took place at Cape Canaveral in Florida, transformed the dark sky into daylight as it soared towards space on a nine-minute voyage. The ISS has been operating with a reduced crew of three since last month due to an early departure by NASA’s Crew-11 mission. In January, one crew member experienced a “serious” but stable health condition, marking the first medical evacuation in the orbital lab’s 26-year history. This necessitated an earlier than planned return of the previous crew. The new team includes two NASA astronauts: commander Jessica Meir and pilot Jack Hathaway. Joining them are Sophie Adenot, a French astronaut with the European Space Agency, and Andrey Fedyaev, a Russian cosmonaut. This mission marks the second trip to space for both Meir and Fedyaev, while it will be the first time in orbit for Hathaway and Adenot. The quartet is scheduled to spend eight months aboard the station conducting science and research, as well as performing maintenance on the outpost. Their stay promises a wealth of new discoveries and advancements in our understanding of life beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Historically, these NASA crew rotations have overlapped so that arriving astronauts can spend a few days with their predecessors for knowledge transfer. However, this time around, the Crew-12 mission will be docking without the benefit of such an overlap due to the early departure of Crew-11. The arrival of Crew-12 signifies another milestone in human space exploration and collaboration between nations. It underscores our collective commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible, even as we face challenges along the way. As these astronauts embark on their mission, they carry with them not only the hopes and dreams of humanity but also a legacy that spans decades of space exploration. From studying the effects of microgravity on various biological systems to testing new technologies for future missions, each crew contributes significantly to our collective knowledge about life in space. The insights gained from these expeditions will pave the way for longer-duration missions and eventually human settlements beyond Earth. As we eagerly await their arrival at the ISS this weekend, let us remember that every launch represents a giant leap forward in our quest to understand our place in the universe. Each astronaut who ventures into space becomes an ambassador of hope, reminding us all that there are no limits when it comes to human curiosity and determination. Welcome aboard, Crew-12! May your mission be successful, productive, and filled with awe-inspiring discoveries. Here’s to the future of space exploration!
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/13/nx-s1-5712808/nasa-spacex-crew-12-launch-iss)
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