SpaceX Crew-12 is in the ISS

Photo courtesy of Yinan Chen/Wikimedia Commons

For several years, NASA has been partnering with SpaceX, using their reusable rockets to put new astronauts in space, including the Falcon 9 rocket and the Dragon spacecraft. This continued when NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 crew launched into space and entered the International Space Station (ISS) on Feb. 14, following NASA’s “routine two-week quarantine.” This includes isolation, limited contact with people outside the quarantine, and heavy screening of those who are allowed in before entrance. This routine helps “to reduce preflight illnesses and prevent subsequent symptoms during flight,” as per NASA. This is especially important due to the limited amount of medical resources in space.

According to NASA, the SpaceX Crew-12 is the “twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station,” and consists of four members. NASA identifies these four members as “NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.” According to NPR, Meir and Fedyaev have both completed one prior space mission, whilst Adenot and Roscosmos are completing their first mission with this trip. Additionally, NPR reports that “[she] and NASA astronaut Christina Koch conducted the first all-female spacewalk,” setting a record the last time she was in the space station in 2019. 

This mission was completed after “a previous crew made an emergency exit due to a medical concern,” according to CNN. Additionally, NPR notes that this “was the first medical evacuation in the orbital lab's 26-year history.” These Crew-11 members’ “stay in space was cut short by a month due to a ‘serious’ medical issue,” as per the BBC. There is little information on the exact issue or who experienced the medical issue, but the BBC reports that the crew member is currently okay. This exit, unfortunately, left fewer astronauts in orbit than is typical, necessitating the sooner-than-expected orbit of the four members. 

CNN reports that NASA typically prefers to have an overlap of the departing and arriving astronauts so that the new arrivals can “orient themselves on the laboratory with the help of the departing crew.” This is typically important for the smooth running of new crews when entering the ISS, to maintain the research being conducted, and potentially  include tours or briefings. The change in plans created a bit of a difficult situation, but the astronauts received significant training to help with the transition into space. 

Though the astronauts officially landed at the ISS on Saturday, Feb. 14, they launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the previous day Feb. 13, according to CNN. CNN notes that “SpaceX could have expedited the launch even more, as the spacecraft and rocket flying this mission were processed ahead of schedule,” but were unable to without compromising the readiness of their astronauts. This includes the aforementioned quarantining in addition to routine testing to ensure that both the astronauts and their equipment are ready and safe for the mission. 

This mission continues the research done at the International Space Station. This research largely centers on how living in space long term affects the body and science in general. While these astronauts are on the ISS for eight months, they will continue to explore these themes. This could eventually lead to research to put people on the moon or Mars for extended periods of time.