NASA Delays Crew-12 Launch to International Space Station

NASA has announced a delay in the launch of its Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 11. The mission includes Russian astronaut Andrey Fedyaev as part of the international crew.

In a statement, NASA said: “Due to forecasted weather conditions along the Dragon spacecraft’s trajectory, the launch scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, has been postponed. NASA and SpaceX now plan to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Thursday, February 12, no later than 5:38 a.m. EST (1:38 p.m. Moscow time).”

The Crew-12 spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, who will command the mission, and Jack Hathaway, along with Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev and European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Adeno.

Steve Stich, NASA’s manager for the Commercial Crew Program, warned that the Thursday launch could also be delayed depending on weather conditions at the launch site. NASA experts will consult with meteorologists to determine the safest window for liftoff.

The mission is part of the ongoing NASA-Roscosmos collaboration, first formalized in July 2022, which allows American astronauts to travel aboard Russian Soyuz vehicles and Russian astronauts to fly on NASA’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

The partnership was extended in January last year to continue through 2025–2026, reflecting the long-term commitment to joint operations on the ISS.