SpaceX Launches Crew-12 Mission to the International Space Station

In yet another impressive SpaceX launch that’s dominating headlines and social media feeds, SpaceX successfully sent the Crew-12 astronauts skyward this morning aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The SpaceX launch thundered off the pad at exactly 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 GMT), carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev in the Dragon Freedom spacecraft.

This marks a critical SpaceX launch to replenish the ISS crew following an early return of the previous team due to a medical concern, restoring the station’s full complement of seven astronauts for ongoing research and operations.

Just minutes after separation, the Falcon 9 first-stage booster—on its second flight—executed a pinpoint landing at the adjacent Landing Zone 40, showcasing SpaceX’s reusable technology mastery once again in this high-profile SpaceX launch.

Docking with the orbiting outpost is targeted for Saturday, February 14, around 3:15 p.m. EST (2015 GMT). The crew will conduct an eight-month expedition, performing vital experiments including studies on pneumonia treatments, microgravity fluid dynamics, plant growth monitoring, and human blood flow in space—all enabled by this timely SpaceX launch.

Today’s flawless SpaceX launch follows a string of recent successes, including multiple Starlink deployments in early February and sets the stage for even more activity.

SpaceX’s launch manifest remains packed, with additional SpaceX launches scheduled imminently. Another Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on February 14, followed by one from Florida on February 15, highlighting the company’s relentless pace in building global satellite internet and supporting human spaceflight.

After thorough reviews addressing a prior uncrewed Falcon 9 anomaly, NASA and SpaceX confirmed the vehicle was ready, proving once more why SpaceX launches are among the most trusted and frequent in the industry.

This morning’s spectacular SpaceX launch lit up skies along the East Coast, with observers as far as North Carolina and Maine capturing stunning vapor trail photos and videos shared widely online.

As SpaceX continues pushing boundaries, stay tuned for docking livestreams, crew arrival highlights, and updates on the next wave of SpaceX launches!

Signpost NewsDesk

Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.