Home / Science / Astronauts Blast Off to ISS Amid Staffing Crisis
Astronauts Blast Off to ISS Amid Staffing Crisis
13 Feb
Summary
- Crew-12 launch to International Space Station set for Friday.
- ISS operating with only three crew members, below desired seven.
- Mission aims to resume normal research operations on station.
A SpaceX capsule is scheduled to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than 5:15 a.m. ET on Friday, February 14, 2026. This mission, designated Crew-12, will restore the orbiting laboratory to its full seven-person complement after a month of operating with a reduced crew.
The ISS has been staffed by only three individuals since mid-January, a situation that has limited scientific research. The Crew-12 mission, utilizing a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, is critical for maximizing the station's productivity and value. This comes after the previous mission, Crew-11, had to return early due to an undisclosed medical issue with one of its crew members.
The arriving Crew-12 astronauts include NASA's Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA's Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. While they will not receive a direct handover from the departing crew due to Crew-11's early departure, they have exchanged information on the ground. Their approximately eight-month stay will involve various research projects, including circulation studies, pharmaceutical research, and a simulated lunar landing to assess gravity's effects on the body.
