Crew-12 concludes record-setting ISS mission with Pacific splashdown

Key points

• Crew-12 undocked from the ISS on Oct. 7 and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California on Oct. 8 at 11:34 a.m. EDT.
• The four-person crew included NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA’s Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos’ Andrey Fedyaev.
• Sophie Adenot’s mission set a new European record for the longest single spaceflight, surpassing previous records held by Luca Parmitano and Thomas Pesquet.
• The crew performed multiple spacewalks, including the first-ever spacewalk by a French woman, conducted by Adenot.
• Crew-12 was relieved by Crew-13, which arrived at the ISS on Oct. 1 after a delay due to a propulsion issue.

Background

Crew-12 launched to the ISS on Feb. 13, 2026, following the early return of Crew-11 due to a medical issue. The station had operated with a skeleton crew of three until Crew-12’s arrival. Crew-13 arrived on Oct. 1, 2026, setting a record for the fastest American spacecraft transit to the ISS.

How outlets are covering it

Space.com and NASA emphasized the successful splashdown and the crew’s extensive scientific and maintenance work. ESA highlighted Sophie Adenot’s historic spacewalks and her record-breaking mission duration. WGME focused on Jessica Meir’s personal reflections on the human connections formed during the mission. All sources agreed on the timeline and key milestones, but differed in emphasis: Space.com and NASA focused on the operational success, ESA on Adenot’s achievements, and WGME on Meir’s personal experience.

Why it matters

The successful return of Crew-12 marks the completion of a significant milestone in human spaceflight, demonstrating the reliability of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon and the ISS’s operational capabilities. The mission also set new records for European spaceflight and included historic firsts, such as the first spacewalk by a French woman.

What to watch

Crew-13 will continue operations at the ISS, and the returned astronauts will undergo post-flight medical evaluations and debriefings. NASA and ESA will analyze the data collected during the mission, including the results of the scientific experiments and the testing of new technologies.