Plate Nº 93 · recorded October 9, 2026
Space & AstronomyReported finding
SpaceX Crew-12 Splashes Down After 237 Days Aboard Space Station
Crew-12 splashed down off Los Angeles on Oct. 8, 2026, after 237 days, 3,792 orbits and 100 million miles aboard the International Space Station. NASA will brief media on Oct. 15.
By Marcus Bennett4 min read703 words
In brief
- Crew-12 splashed down in the Pacific off Los Angeles on Oct. 8, 2026, at 8:34 a.m. PDT.
- The crew spent 237 days in orbit, traveling more than 100 million miles over 3,792 Earth orbits.
- A crew news conference is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT on Oct. 15 at Johnson Space Center.
- Meir completed four spacewalks, reaching a career total of seven — third among NASA women.
- Adenot completed three spacewalks, becoming the first French woman to spacewalk outside the station.
After 237 days in orbit, NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. The four crew members — NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev — will discuss their mission at a news conference at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 15, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom capsule hit the water at 8:34 a.m. PDT. Recovery teams aboard SpaceX vessels reached the spacecraft and its crew shortly afterward. After standard postflight medical checks, the crew was set to fly to shore and then return to Houston.
"Jessica, Jack, Sophie, and Andrey spent 237 days living and working in orbit, traveled more than 100 million miles, advanced important science, and returned safely home because of the extraordinary expertise and competence of thousands across NASA, SpaceX, and our international partners," said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. "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."
What did the crew accomplish in orbit?
The numbers tell the story of a long-haul mission:
- 237 days living and working aboard the International Space Station
- More than 100 million miles traveled
- More than 3,792 orbits of Earth completed
- Hundreds of hours of scientific research logged
Crew-12 launched at 5:15 a.m. EST on Feb. 13 and docked with the orbiting laboratory a day later. The mission was the second spaceflight for Meir and Fedyaev, and the first for Hathaway and Adenot.
Why does the research matter?
The crew's experiments targeted two goals at once: preparing humans for travel beyond low Earth orbit — the region of space close to our planet where the station flies — and delivering concrete benefits to people on Earth.
The research portfolio included:
- Stem cell production in space, aimed at improving cell-based therapies for cancer and other diseases
- On-demand generation of intravenous (IV) fluid, a capability future missions could use to produce medical fluids without carrying supplies from Earth
- A study of pneumonia-causing bacteria, investigating how the infection can lead to long-term heart damage
- Nutrition-focused research to support astronaut health
- An examination of how physical characteristics affect blood flow during spaceflight, intended to keep astronauts safe on future missions
NASA says research aboard the station builds the knowledge base and demonstrates the technologies needed for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Who walked in space?
Meir completed four spacewalks during the mission, bringing her career total to seven. That places her third all-time among NASA women in total spacewalks, behind former agency astronauts Peggy Whitson and Suni Williams.
Adenot completed three spacewalks and became the first French woman to venture outside the orbital outpost.
What happens next?
Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's Low Earth Orbit Program at Johnson Space Center, framed the mission within the agency's broader push outward.
"NASA's activities supporting the International Space Station — transporting crew, conducting impactful research, and maintaining critical national assets — enable the science, engineering, and risk-reduction needed for future missions across the solar system," Weigel said. "We're grateful for the dedication across the human spaceflight team that makes this possible, and we're thrilled to welcome Jessica, Jack, Sophie, and Andrey home."
At the Oct. 15 briefing, Meir, Hathaway, and Fedyaev will take questions. Adenot will return to Europe and will not attend.
U.S.-based media wanting to attend in person must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 13. Reporters joining by phone must request dial-in details by 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 15 and join no later than 15 minutes before the briefing begins.
How does the crew get home in the first place?
NASA's Low Earth Orbit Program handles the transportation. The program partners with private U.S. companies, including SpaceX, to carry astronauts to and from the station, maximizing the orbiting laboratory's use for research and development.
via x.com (Original)
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