NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Prelaunch News Conference (Feb. 9, 2026)

Why It Matters

Crew‑12’s launch will keep the ISS research pipeline flowing while proving commercial crew resilience amid weather challenges, strengthening U.S.‑European‑Russian space cooperation.

Key Takeaways

• Launch delayed to Feb 12 due to high east‑coast winds.
• Crew 12 includes two veterans and two first‑timers from NASA, ESA, Roscosmos.
• Static fire completed; check valve replaced after minor pressure issue.
• Experiments focus on plant micronutrients, protein crystal growth, AI‑guided ultrasounds.
• ESA highlights new compact exercise device and autonomous ultrasound technology.

Summary

NASA’s pre‑launch news conference on Feb. 9 outlined the upcoming Crew‑12 mission, slated for no earlier than Feb. 12 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 40. The briefing featured program managers from NASA, ESA and SpaceX, and introduced the four‑person crew – veterans Jessica Meir and Andrei Fadeev alongside first‑timers Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adno.

Officials explained that a low‑pressure system over the East Coast pushed the launch back one day, with winds exceeding the 24‑knot limit in the abort corridor. A full‑duration static fire was successfully completed, though a sluggish check valve on a transfer‑tube seal was swapped out after detecting moisture‑induced pressure anomalies. All ground‑system servers are now operational, and the crew has completed a dry‑dress rehearsal.

“Seeing the Falcon 9 on Pad 40 next to Artemis on Pad 39 B is historic,” program manager Steve Stich said, underscoring the dual‑launch capability. ESA’s Andreas Mogensen highlighted Sophie Adno’s selection from 22,500 applicants and her work on the European Enhanced Exploration Device and AI‑augmented ultrasound. NASA’s William Gerstenmaier detailed the valve fix and reaffirmed confidence in the vehicle’s readiness.

The mission reinforces the reliability of the Commercial Crew Program, sustains a packed ISS research calendar, and advances technologies—plant micronutrient recycling, protein crystal growth for drug development, and autonomous medical diagnostics—that could translate to Earth and future deep‑space missions.

Original Description

NASA and the agency's partners preview the launch of our SpaceX Crew-12 mission.

Participants include:

- Steve Stich, manager, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program

- Dana Weigel, manager, NASA International Space Station Program

- Andreas Mogensen, Human Exploration Group Leader, ESA

- William Gerstenmaier, vice president, Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX

Crew-12's four crew members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. They are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than 5:38 a.m. EST (1038 UTC) on Thursday, Feb. 12.

While aboard the station, they will conduct various experiments and technology demonstrations to benefit life on Earth and in orbit, furthering our journey back to the Moon, to Mars, and beyond.

Learn more about the ISS: https://www.nasa.gov/reference/international-space-station/

Updates on Crew-12: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/crew-12/

Credit: NASA