Astronauts to Head Back to Earth After 8 Months in Space

After nearly eight months living and working aboard the International Space Station (ISS), four astronauts are preparing to return to Earth as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission.

The Crew-12 team includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The crew launched to the ISS in February and has spent months conducting scientific research and technology demonstrations in orbit.

Crew-12 Set for Return

The astronauts are scheduled to leave the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Freedom. NASA and SpaceX are targeting the undocking for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with the crew expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast on Thursday, October 8.

The return comes shortly after the arrival of SpaceX Crew-13 on October 1. The new crew has taken over station operations, allowing Crew-12 to begin its journey home.

Months of Science in Orbit

Crew-12 spent its mission helping scientists better understand how the human body and biological systems respond to long-duration spaceflight.

The astronauts worked on experiments involving human health, plant growth, blood flow, bone loss and other areas important to future missions. Much of this research could support NASA’s plans for longer missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.

Living in microgravity for months also gives researchers valuable information about how astronauts' bodies adapt to the space environment—and how they can safely return to Earth.

SpaceX Dragon Will Bring Them Home

The Crew-12 astronauts will travel inside SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft for their return journey. After undocking, Dragon will spend additional time in orbit before reentering Earth's atmosphere and deploying parachutes for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA is planning live coverage of the astronauts' departure and return, allowing viewers around the world to follow the final stages of the mission.

A New Crew Takes Over

The return of Crew-12 is part of the regular rotation of astronauts aboard the ISS.

Crew-13 arrived on October 1 aboard another SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Its members include NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.

With Crew-13 now aboard, the ISS continues its research and international operations without interruption.