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<\/a><\/figure>Four crew members of NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled a Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir<\/a> and Jack Hathaway<\/a>, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The spacecraft will dock autonomously to the space-facing port of the station\u2019s Harmony module at approximately 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Crew-12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation, and teamwork required for human spaceflight,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. \u201cThe research this crew will conduct aboard the space station advances critical technologies for deep space exploration while delivering real benefits here on Earth. I\u2019m grateful to the NASA and SpaceX teams whose discipline, rigor, and resilience made today\u2019s launch possible. We undertake these missions with a clear understanding of risk, managing it responsibly so we can continue expanding human presence in low Earth orbit while preparing for our next great leap to the Moon and onward to Mars.\u201d<\/p>\n During Dragon\u2019s flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s live coverage resumes at 1:15 p.m. Saturday on NASA+<\/a>, Amazon Prime<\/a>, and the agency\u2019s YouTube<\/a> channel with rendezvous, docking, and hatch opening. After docking, the crew will change out of their spacesuits and prepare cargo for offload before opening the hatch between Dragon and the space station\u2019s Harmony module around 5 p.m. NASA also will provide coverage of the welcome ceremony aboard the space station shortly following hatch opening.<\/p>\n Learn how to watch NASA content<\/a> through a variety of platforms, including social media.<\/p>\n Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev will join the Expedition 74 crew, including NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev already aboard the orbiting laboratory, returning the space station to its standard seven crew members complement following the Jan. 14 departure<\/a> of NASA\u2019s SpaceX Crew-11 mission.<\/p>\n During its mission, Crew-12 will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration<\/a> beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth. Participating crew members will study pneumonia-causing bacteria<\/a> to improve cardiovascular treatments, on-demand intravenous fluid generation<\/a> for future space missions, and research on how physical characteristics may affect blood flow<\/a> during spaceflight. Other experiments include automated plant health monitoring<\/a> and investigations of plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions<\/a> to enhance food production in space.<\/p>\n Crew-12 is part of NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program, which provides reliable access to space, maximizing the use of the station for research and development, and supporting future missions beyond low Earth orbit by partnering with private companies to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.<\/p>\n Learn more about the agency\u2019s Commercial Crew Program at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercialcrew<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Josh Finch Steven Siceloff Sandra Jones \/ Joseph Zakrzewski
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-867-2468
steven.p.siceloff@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov<\/a> \/ joseph.a.zakrzewski@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n