NASA’s Crew-12 mission has successfully returned to Earth after an eight-month journey to the International Space Station. The crew included NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, along with European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. They splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
The mission started with a launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and was characterized by numerous scientific experiments—including studies on stem cells and bone loss in microgravity. Meir conducted four spacewalks during the mission, performing necessary maintenance on the station.
As they returned, the capsule endured intense heat during reentry and relied on parachutes for a safe landing in the ocean. Meir expressed excitement about reuniting with her daughter and enjoying nature after months in space, while acknowledging the elements she would miss, like weightlessness and Earth’s stunning views. The Crew-12 team was relieved by the Crew-13 astronauts, who are beginning their six-month rotation at the ISS.
