NASA's Crew-12 Mission Concludes with Return Home Scheduled for October 7

The four astronauts of NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station are scheduled to depart no earlier than October 7, following the arrival of Crew-13 on October 1. During their mission, Crew-12 members Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev conducted extensive research ranging from cancer treatment advancement to quantum technology refinement to support future deep-space exploration. Their work contributes to preparations for upcoming Artemis missions, including the lunar surface missions planned for 2027 and 2028.

NASA's Crew-12 astronauts have spent eight months conducting research aboard the International Space Station since their February arrival. The four-person team—comprising two NASA astronauts, one ESA astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut—undertook investigations spanning biological sciences, materials research, and technology development. Their experiments examined cellular behavior in microgravity, tissue engineering using bone scaffolds, and crystal structure studies designed to yield applications both for life on Earth and future space exploration.

The timing of their October departure follows the successful arrival of Crew-13, which launched on October 1 in what SpaceX achieved as the fastest-ever American crewed flight to the station. The research conducted by Crew-12 directly supports NASA's broader agenda for lunar exploration, particularly the Artemis III mission scheduled for 2027 and Artemis IV planned for 2028, which aim to return humans to the Moon's surface.