NASA and SpaceX are set to launch the Crew-12 mission early Friday, February 13th, at 5:15 a.m. EST (1115 GMT). This launch is critical for restoring the International Space Station (ISS) to its full operational capacity of seven astronauts following the unexpected early return of Crew-11 last month. The crew will embark on an eight-month mission, conducting scientific research and maintaining the station.
Favorable Launch Conditions
Current weather forecasts indicate a 90% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff. SpaceX and NASA teams completed a Launch Readiness Review on Thursday, confirming the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are cleared for launch. Monitoring will continue right up to the launch window, with a final forecast review scheduled for 10 p.m. Thursday to assess potential high wind speeds. The Falcon 9 is already positioned at Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral, Florida – SpaceX’s preferred pad for Crew Dragon missions.
Meet the Crew-12 Team
The four-person crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (mission commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot). They will be joined by European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot of France and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedaev. This international team underscores the collaborative nature of the ISS program, which has been a cornerstone of space research for decades.
Why Crew-12 Matters
The early return of Crew-11 in January, due to an unspecified medical emergency, left the ISS understaffed. The accelerated schedule for Crew-12 demonstrates the urgency of maintaining continuous human presence in orbit for scientific and logistical reasons. The ISS relies on a full crew to conduct experiments, repair systems, and prepare for future long-duration missions to the Moon and beyond.
This launch is not just about restoring numbers; it’s about ensuring the continued operation of a vital scientific outpost in low Earth orbit.
The mission can be watched live on NASA TV starting at 3:15 a.m. EST (0815 GMT) on Friday, February 13th.
The successful launch of Crew-12 is essential for maintaining the ISS’s operational status, ensuring ongoing scientific research, and preparing for future deep-space exploration efforts.
