SpaceX's Crew-12 Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on February 14, 2026, marking the start of an ambitious eight-month mission. The four-member international crew, comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on February 13.
During their stay, the team will conduct groundbreaking research to advance human space exploration and improve terrestrial medical treatments. Key experiments include analyzing pneumonia-causing bacteria to refine cardiovascular therapies and testing portable IV fluid production systems for future deep-space missions. The crew will also study how microgravity affects blood circulation based on individual physical traits.
NASA highlighted additional projects focused on sustainable space habitation, including automated plant health monitoring systems and studies on plant-microbe interactions to optimize crop yields in extraterrestrial environments. These innovations aim to support long-term missions to the Moon and Mars while addressing global food security challenges.
The mission underscores growing international collaboration in space exploration, with agencies from the U.S., Europe, and Russia working jointly to expand humanity's presence beyond low Earth orbit.
