Four new astronauts are en route to the International Space Station (ISS), launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 5:15 A.M. EST on Friday. The crew – comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev – is expected to dock with the station at approximately 3:15 P.M. EST on Saturday, February 14th.
Mission Objectives
During their time aboard the ISS, Crew-12 will conduct a range of scientific experiments. These include studying the effects of microgravity on human physiology – specifically, changes in blood flow and potential countermeasures like vitamin B supplementation to mitigate vision impairment in astronauts. Additionally, the crew will participate in simulated lunar landing exercises, preparing for future missions. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that Crew-12 will also engage in communications with the Artemis II crew as they orbit the moon.
A Shift in Crew Rotations
This launch follows an atypical crew handover. The previous crew, Crew-11, was unexpectedly evacuated from the ISS in January – weeks before their scheduled return. The reason for this early departure remains partially undisclosed, with NASA citing a medical issue affecting one of the four astronauts as the cause.
The early evacuation left the ISS temporarily staffed by a reduced crew of three: NASA astronaut Chris Williams and two Roscosmos cosmonauts, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov (station commander) and Sergei Mikaev. NASA confirmed that Crew-12’s preparation and training were not altered in response to the Crew-11 incident.
The decision to evacuate Crew-11 prematurely highlights the inherent risks of long-duration spaceflight and the importance of rapid response protocols when medical emergencies arise. The lack of full transparency regarding the medical issue raises questions about the health monitoring procedures for astronauts and the potential for undisclosed complications in extreme environments.
Crew-12’s arrival restores the ISS to its standard staffing level, ensuring continued operation of vital research and maintenance tasks. The mission represents a critical step in sustaining human presence in low Earth orbit while preparing for more ambitious endeavors, like lunar exploration with Artemis II.
