NASA, SpaceX launch Crew-12 mission to International Space Station

Crew-12 mission launches from Florida to International Space Station

NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-12 mission from Cape Canaveral on Friday. The four person crew is now headed to the International Space Station. 

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA and SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-12 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Friday. 

The four-person Crew-12 is now headed to the International Space Station, replacing the Crew-11 astronauts who had to return to Earth early last month because of a medical evacuation. 

The mission was the first crewed flight from the Space Coast this year.  The crew lifted off in the Dragon Freedom capsule atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket's first-stage booster returned to Earth for a planned landing on SpaceX's new landing pad at Cape Canaveral. 

Once they arrive at the ISS, Crew-12 will begin an eight-month rotation on the space station, returning the outpost to a full crew of seven.

The team will help with station operations, conduct several spacewalks and conduct experiments and research that will be used to help missions to the Moon and Mars.

"Crew members will investigate automated plant health monitoring and the interactions between plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe, a process that provides plants with usable nitrogen to grow in microgravity aboard the space station," NASA said in a blog post. "The research could help develop ways for growing food during future space missions."

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Teams give Crew-12 a ‘go’ to proceed with countdown

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Weather concerns earlier this week caused NASA to push back the launch twice. 

The launch was initially scheduled for Thursday before officials delayed it to Friday for more favorable weather conditions. 

Weather forecasters issued an improved outlook for the launch, giving a 90% chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. 

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SpaceX Crew-12: Successful launch to the International Space Station

The four-person Crew-12 is now headed to the International Space Station, replacing the Crew-11 astronauts who had to return to Earth early last month because of a medical evacuation.  The mission was the first crewed flight from the Space Coast this year. The crew lifted off in the Dragon Freedom capsule atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket's first-stage booster returned to Earth for a planned landing on SpaceX's new landing pad at Cape Canaveral. 

Who is on Crew-12? 

What we know:

Launching with Crew-12 to the ISS are NASA astronauts: Commander Jessica Meir and Pilot Jack Hathaway.

Additionally, Mission Specialist Sophie Adeno with the European Space Agency and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev with Roscosmos are part of Crew-12. 

The four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station pose together for an official crew portrait. From left are, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway

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Both Meir and Fedyaev are returning to the ISS. It's Hathaway and Adeno's first time on board the ISS. 

Adeno will assist with the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device – which assists with exercising in space. Adeno will be the first to use the device – which is a combination of a rowing, bicycling and strength exercise device, Human Exploration Group Leader Andreas Mogensen of ESA said – on the ISS.

What is the International Space Station? 

The International Space Station, ISS, is a low orbit home and research facility for astronauts. The ISS, which was launched 25 years ago, brings together international flight crews, multiple launch vehicles, scientific research and more, NASA said. 

In its 25 years, astronauts have conducted over 250 space walks, including five spacewalks in 2025. Here's a list of NASA's previous International Space Station spacewalks.