The countdown has begun. NASA and SpaceX have officially opened media accreditation for the Crew-12 mission, targeting a launch no earlier than February 15, 2026. This mission marks the 12th rotational flight of the commercial crew program, continuing a new era of routine yet high-stakes access to low-Earth orbit.

The mission will see a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket roar to life from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, carrying a diverse quartet of astronauts: Commander Jessica Meir (NASA), Pilot Jack Hathaway (NASA), and Mission Specialists Sophie Adenot (ESA) and Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos). Their destination: the International Space Station (ISS), where they will spend six months conducting critical scientific research.

A Symbol of Cooperation

In an era of geopolitical fragmentation on Earth, the Crew-12 roster remains a powerful symbol of orbital diplomacy. The inclusion of a Roscosmos cosmonaut alongside American and European astronauts underscores the enduring partnership aboard the ISS, which remains one of the few active links between Washington and Moscow.

• The Itinerary: The crew will overlap briefly with the departing Crew-11 team, ensuring a seamless handover of station operations.
• The Science: Their mission mandate includes over 200 experiments, ranging from growing protein crystals for cancer research to testing new water recovery systems essential for future Mars missions.

The Commercial Era

For SpaceX, this launch is another notch in its belt of reliability. The Falcon 9 has become the workhorse of American spaceflight. "We are making the extraordinary look routine," said a SpaceX mission manager. "But every launch is a controlled explosion. We never get complacent."