NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 successfully launches to the ISS, carrying international astronauts to conduct critical research benefiting space exploration and Earth.
SpaceX Crew-12 launches to the ISS with international astronauts, conducting experiments to advance human spaceflight and benefit life on Earth.
NASA SpaceX Crew-12 Launch: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission successfully launched at 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the Dragon spacecraft with four crew members: NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
The Dragon spacecraft will dock to the space-facing port of the Harmony module at the International Space Station through its automatic docking system, which will begin operations at approximately 3:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 14. After docking, the crew plans to start cargo offloading procedures, while they will open the hatch for entry at approximately 5 p.m. NASA will provide live coverage of the rendezvous and docking, and the welcome ceremony through NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.
Crew-12 will join Expedition 74, which includes NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, to restore the space station crew size to seven members according to standard operational procedures from before Crew-11 left on January 14.
Crew-12 will conduct experiments during their mission, which will help develop future human exploration programs that extend beyond low Earth orbit. The main research objectives include studying pneumonia bacteria to develop better cardiovascular treatments, creating on-demand intravenous fluid systems, developing systems to monitor plant health, and conducting research on plant microbe interactions for space-based food production. The experiments will help both space missions and everyday life on Earth.
NASA's Commercial Crew Program includes this mission, which works with private companies to establish dependable space travel to the International Space Station. The program enables scientific research in low Earth orbit while it helps prepare for future Moon and Mars space missions.
Crew-12 shows how international teamwork and advanced technology work together to make space travel progress while providing useful results for people on Earth.
