NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Returns Safely After a 237-Day Space Mission
On Thursday, October 8, 2026, four international astronauts from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission made a safe return to Earth. The spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Los Angeles, at exactly 11:34 a.m. EDT.
The crew was comprised of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (Commander) and Jack Hathaway (Pilot), ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Since February 13, 2026, these four have been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS), spending a total of 237 days in orbit and covering more than 100 million miles.
Throughout their nearly eight-month-long mission, the crew conducted four spacewalks and dedicated hundreds of hours to scientific research. Their studies included:
- Testing stem cell production for cell-based therapies
- Demonstrating on-demand IV fluid generation for future deep-space missions
- Studying how the bacteria that causes pneumonia can lead to long-term heart damage
In late August 2026, ESA’s Sophie Adenot also made history as the first French female astronaut to conduct a spacewalk.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew’s successful return. He highlighted that the safe homecoming was a result of the collaborative efforts of thousands of experts from NASA, SpaceX, and international partner agencies. With this mission, Jessica Meir has now logged 440 total days in space, earning her a spot in NASA’s Top 10 for cumulative time in orbit.
Source: NASA.gov — NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Splashes Down