A new crew has successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS), restoring the team to its full complement of seven astronauts. The Crew 12 team arrived aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on February 10, 2024, after launching from the Kennedy Space Center. Their arrival comes just one month after four crew members departed the ISS early due to a medical issue.
The Crew Dragon docked at the station’s forward Harmony module at 20:15 UTC, approximately 34 hours after taking off on February 9, 2024. Commander Jessica Meir, who is on her second long-duration mission, expressed enthusiasm as she and her fellow crew members prepared to contribute to ongoing research aboard the ISS.
Andrey Fedyaev, a veteran Russian cosmonaut, joined Meir along with two newcomers: Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot, a French astronaut representing the European Space Agency. The Crew 12 astronauts opened the hatch and floated into the station two hours post-docking, greeted warmly by the current station crew, which includes commander Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, cosmonaut Sergey Mikaev, and NASA astronaut Chris Williams.
During a welcoming ceremony, Kud-Sverchkov expressed relief and joy at their safe arrival. He stated, “Welcome to Crew 12. We are happy they all arrived safe and sound. We’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time.” Meir responded, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of the crew, saying, “It’s a testament to everything we do; we have so many countries represented, so many disciplines.”
The journey to the ISS was marked by excitement. Adenot, a seasoned helicopter test pilot, noted the awe of seeing Earth from space. “The first time we looked at the Earth was, wow, mind blowing,” she shared. “We see no lines, no borders; it was a very big moment for us.”
With the arrival of Crew 12, research activities in the U.S. segment of the station can resume at full capacity. The previous crew, known as Crew 11, had to depart early, leaving only three astronauts aboard, which limited research capabilities and operations on the station. NASA officials had considered advancing Crew 12’s launch by several days to reduce the time Williams would spend as the sole operator of the U.S. segment. However, logistical conflicts and weather delays led to the eventual February 9 launch.
“Crew 12 is honored to join our Expedition 74 friends and colleagues… to add our chapter to the story of the International Space Station,” Hathaway stated.
Following docking, the Crew 12 team indicated they would require a post-docking medical conference, a routine procedure for astronauts after arriving at the ISS. NASA maintains strict privacy around health issues, but it is common for space travelers to experience initial discomfort as they adapt to weightlessness.
The ISS continues to serve as a crucial platform for international collaboration in scientific research, and the successful integration of Crew 12 marks another step in its ongoing mission. With seven crew members now on board, the station is well-equipped to handle a full range of research and operational tasks in the weeks ahead.
