A crew consisting of three astronauts and one cosmonaut successfully completed their mission to the International Space Station and returned to Earth. The group, designated Crew-12, included NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying the crew touched down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, with the reentry process occurring over approximately 45 minutes as the spacecraft slowed from orbital velocity to a gentle landing speed.
The mission launched in February aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida, marking the 20th human spaceflight conducted by SpaceX. Following docking with the space station, the crew spent nearly eight months conducting research and maintenance activities. Their scientific work included multiple experiments focused on stem cell research, crystal growth in microgravity environments, and the effects of weightlessness on bone density.
Beyond laboratory work, crew members participated in several spacewalks to maintain and upgrade the aging orbital facility. Meir conducted four spacewalks totaling over 27 hours, while Adenot completed three spacewalks. The crew was replaced by the incoming Crew-13 members, who arrived at the station the previous week to begin their six-month rotation. Prior to departure, Meir expressed her anticipation for reconnecting with family and experiencing natural elements such as wind and natural scenery after her extended time in the orbital environment.
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