With Crew-13 safely aboard, NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 is getting ready to go home. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev launched on 13 February 2026 and have spent nearly eight months on the International Space Station.
Return schedule
According to NASA's space station blog, Crew-13 arrived on 1 October, bringing the number of people aboard to 11. On Sunday, 4 October, Crew-12 will hand over its duties, and Meir will pass command of the station to Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov in a change-of-command ceremony starting at 10:20 a.m. EDT. NASA and SpaceX are watching the weather off the California coast. At first, NASA said Crew-12 could begin its trip home as early as Monday, 5 October. After reviewing weather and splashdown conditions, NASA and SpaceX moved the target: undocking is now planned for no earlier than 8:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, 7 October, with splashdown off the coast of California at about 11:34 a.m. EDT on Thursday, 8 October. Undocking depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery team readiness, weather in the Pacific and other factors. (Updated 6 October 2026.)
Science highlights
In a review published on 2 October, NASA highlighted the research the crew supported, including:
- Pharmaceutical crystals: cancer-targeting treatments crystallized in microgravity to better understand their properties.
- Cold Atom Lab: work on the quantum physics facility, recently upgraded to produce more atoms.
- Green Bone: Adenot handled a wood-based bone scaffold that could inform treatments for osteoporosis.
- Colloidal Solids: soft materials made from particles suspended in water.
- GEARS: DNA sequencing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria aboard the station.
- Engineered cartilage grown in microgravity for future implants.
The crew also received the Northrop Grumman CRS-24 Cygnus XL cargo mission with fresh food and new experiments.
A record for Europe
ESA says Adenot became the European astronaut with the longest single spaceflight when she passed 200 days in orbit on 3 September 2026. During her mission, called εpsilon, she completed three spacewalks within 15 days, totalling 19 hours and 42 minutes of EVA time. Her training background is covered in our article on spacewalk training. ESA expects her to arrive back in Europe, at Cologne, around 7 or 8 October, with all arrangements still provisional. She will then go to ESA's European Astronaut Centre and DLR's envihab facility for medical checks and rehabilitation.
Frequently asked questions
When does Crew-12 return to Earth?
Undocking is targeted for no earlier than 7 October 2026, with splashdown off California on 8 October, weather permitting.
Who is on Crew-12?
Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway of NASA, Sophie Adenot of ESA and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos.
How long was the Crew-12 mission?
The crew launched on 13 February 2026, so the mission lasts close to eight months.
Who commands the ISS after Crew-12 leaves?
Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov takes over command from Jessica Meir.
Related reading
- NASA and SpaceX Crew-13 launch to the ISS
- How astronauts train for spacewalks
- Rocket to space vs reaching orbit
Sources
- NASA: NASA to Stream SpaceX Crew-12 Return, Splashdown Live (5 Oct 2026)
- NASA blog: No Earlier Than Oct. 7 for Crew-12 Departure (3 Oct 2026)
- NASA: Heading Home, Crew-12 Concludes Station Science Mission (2 Oct 2026)
- NASA blog: Station Crew Expands as Crew-12 Prepares to Depart
- ESA press release N° 59-2026: Sophie Adenot return to Europe
Cover image: Crew-12 (left to right) Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev during the final launch rehearsal, February 2026. Credit: NASA (NHQ202602090016), public domain.