International Space Station Back to Full Strength After SpaceX Crew-12 Arrival

International Space Station Back to Full Strength After SpaceX Crew-12 Arrival

The International Space Station returned to full operational strength on Saturday with the arrival of four new astronauts, replacing colleagues who had to cut short their mission due to health concerns.

The crew was launched a day earlier from Cape Canaveral by SpaceX, marking a fresh chapter for the orbiting laboratory after weeks of reduced staffing and scaled-back research activity.

Medical Evacuation Prompts Crew Rotation

Last month’s emergency return marked the first in-orbit medical evacuation for NASA in 65 years of human spaceflight. One of four astronauts sent to the station last summer developed what officials described as a serious health issue, forcing an early departure on January 7.

NASA has declined to identify the astronaut or disclose details of the medical condition, citing privacy concerns. The affected crew member and three others returned to Earth more than a month ahead of schedule. After splashdown, they spent their first night at a hospital before heading back to Houston.

The unexpected departure left just three astronauts aboard the station — one American and two Russians — prompting NASA to suspend spacewalks and scale back scientific research until reinforcements arrived.

New Crew Begins Long-Duration Mission

Moving in for an eight- to nine-month stay are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot, and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev.

Meir, a marine biologist, and Fedyaev, a former military pilot, are no strangers to orbital life. During her first mission in 2019, Meir participated in the first all-female spacewalk, a milestone moment in space history. Adenot, a military helicopter pilot, becomes only the second French woman to travel to space, while Hathaway serves as a captain in the US Navy.

“Bonjour!” Adenot called out as the capsule docked roughly 277 miles (446 kilometers) above Earth. A couple of hours later, hatches opened and the seven spacefarers embraced and exchanged high-fives. “Let’s get rolling,” Meir said, signaling the start of their long-duration research mission as part of Expedition 74.

Hatches open! Four @SpaceX Crew-12 crew members have entered the station and joined Expedition 74 to begin a long-duration space research mission. More… https://t.co/1329gppIO1 pic.twitter.com/q7khFP9TKW

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) February 14, 2026

In a social media post, the space station’s official account confirmed the crew’s safe arrival and integration into the ongoing mission. Meanwhile, SpaceX founder Elon Musk also shared updates after the Dragon spacecraft successfully docked.

NASA officials said preflight medical checks for the incoming crew were not altered despite last month’s evacuation, expressing confidence in standard screening protocols.

With a full complement restored, the station is expected to resume normal research operations and planned spacewalks in the coming weeks.