Crew 12 Arrives at International Space Station, Restoring Full Team

A new crew has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS), bringing the station’s personnel back to its full complement of seven. The Crew 12 astronauts arrived on February 14, 2024, at 15:15 EST, after launching from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft docked at the space-facing port of the ISS’s forward Harmony module, marking the culmination of a journey that began 34 hours earlier. Crew 12 commander Jessica Meir, making her second long-duration stay at the station, expressed gratitude upon arrival, stating, “Grateful to be on board, and we’re ready to get to work.”

Joining Meir are veteran Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev and two first-time space travelers, Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot from the European Space Agency. The new arrivals were welcomed by ISS commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, alongside fellow crew members Sergey Mikaev and Chris Williams, who had been aboard since November 2023.

Arrival and Welcome Ceremonies

After the Crew Dragon’s hatch opened two hours post-docking, the astronauts exchanged hugs and handshakes with their new crewmates. “Welcome to Crew 12,” Kud-Sverchkov remarked during a brief welcome ceremony. He added, “We are happy they all arrived safe and sound. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time.”

Meir reflected on the diverse backgrounds of the crew, highlighting the collaboration among various nations and disciplines. “You look around, the crew up here, and it’s really a testament to everything we do,” she noted.

The journey to the ISS was particularly memorable for Adenot, a seasoned French air force test pilot. She described the trip as “quite a ride, very fun!” and expressed awe at seeing Earth from space, stating, “The first time we looked at the Earth was, wow, mind-blowing.”

Boosting Operations and Research

The arrival of Crew 12 is significant, as it replaces the previous Crew 11, which returned early due to a medical issue. This left the station with just three occupants: Kud-Sverchkov, Mikaev, and Williams. While the ISS can be operated by a smaller crew, the full complement is essential for conducting a wide range of research and maintenance activities.

With Crew 12 now on board, operations can resume at a normal pace, including planned spacewalks. Hathaway conveyed the team’s enthusiasm, stating, “Crew 12 is honored to join our Expedition 74 friends and colleagues … to add our chapter to the story of the International Space Station.”

Prior to docking, the crew requested a post-docking medical conference due to a potential health issue, though details remain confidential under NASA’s medical privacy guidelines. It is common for astronauts to experience nausea during their initial adaptation to weightlessness, which typically subsides within a few days.

As the international team settles into their new roles aboard the ISS, their collaborative efforts are set to continue advancing scientific research in space, further enhancing our understanding of life beyond Earth.