NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts have successfully returned to Earth after spending over seven months aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Their spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles, marking the end of a mission that lasted 237 days and covered over 100 million miles.
During their time in orbit, the crew—comprising NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev—completed thousands of trips around Earth and conducted numerous scientific experiments aimed at future lunar and Martian missions.
A news conference is scheduled for Oct. 15 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, where the astronauts will share their experiences and research outcomes. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew’s contributions and emphasized the mission’s importance in advancing human space exploration.
After their splashdown at 8:34 a.m. PDT, SpaceX recovery teams quickly retrieved the astronauts and spacecraft for medical evaluations before transporting them to shore and then to Houston.
Throughout their mission, the astronauts circled Earth more than 3,792 times and worked on significant research projects, including stem cell production in space and technology for on-demand IV fluid production. They also investigated health risks faced by astronauts during extended stays in microgravity.
Additionally, the mission included historic spacewalks, with Meir completing four, raising her career total to seven, and Adenot becoming the first French woman to participate in a spacewalk. The combined efforts of Crew-12 have laid the groundwork for future exploration beyond Earth.
