After nearly eight months in space, the four members of Crew-12 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday returning from their mission to the International Space Station.
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, along with European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, launched from Cape Canaveral back in mid-February and departed the station on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom on Wednesday.
After a 27-hour trip home, the spacecraft slowed from about 17,500 mph for a parachute-assisted landing at about 16 mph at 11:34 a.m. off the coast of Los Angeles.
“We are so excited to be back on planet Earth after an incredible mission on the International Space Station with all our colleagues and friends,” said Meir after the landing.
The capsule recovery was quick, with it being hauled up onto a SpaceX vessel in less than an hour.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, left, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon shortly after having landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Keegan Barber/NASA)
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft is seen as it lands with Crew-12’s NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev on board in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Keegan Barber/NASA)
Recovery crews make their way to the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom after it splashed down in the Pacific on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (NASA)
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom splashes down off the coast of Los Angeles in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, to complete the Crew-12 mission. (Courtesy/NASA)
Crew-12 members (from left) Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency), NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Chris Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Kud‑Sverchkov pose for a portrait together inside the International Space Station’s cupola and Tranquility module on March 12, 2026. (Sophie Adenot/ESA)
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Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, left, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot are seen inside the SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Shannon shortly after having landed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Keegan Barber/NASA)
Their departure dropped the station population from 11 back to seven, including the four new members of Crew-13 that arrived on Oct. 1 after launching from the Space Coast. That includes Central Florida astronaut Luke Delaney who made his first spaceflight. Delaney, 47, grew up in DeBary and attended DeLand and Deltona High School.
Crew-12 spent 237 days in space. Meir had been station commander for Expedition 75 and handed over command this past week.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman lauded their work on the station and the smooth ride home and cooperation among NASA, SpaceX and the international partners.
“Building the capability, experience, and confidence to do this repeatedly is exactly what will allow us to go farther, and I am grateful to Crew-12 and their families for their service to humanity’s greatest adventure,” he said.
Crew-13 will remain on board until next spring, while another three space station crewmembers who flew up on a Soyuz this past July are set to remain at the station until April.
The seven remaining crew on board include Delaney’s fellow Crew-13 members, NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos’ Sergey Teteryatnikov. In addition, the three members that arrived on a Soyuz include NASA astronaut Anil Menon and cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
The space station has been continuously populated for nearly 26 years, having first hosted astronauts on Expedition 1 in November 2000.