NASA Advances Crew-12 Launch to February 11 Amid ISS Crew Reduction

NASA and SpaceX have accelerated the launch of the Crew-12 mission to February 11, 2024, following an unexpected reduction in the International Space Station’s crew due to a medical evacuation.

The mission will replace the ISS crew after the January 14 evacuation of Crew-11, which reduced the station’s population from six to three. Crew-12 includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.

Fedyaev replaced Oleg Artemyev in December 2023, with the stated reason being a potential violation of U.S. national security regulations. The Crew Dragon spacecraft 'Grace' will remain docked for nine months, extending the standard six-month rotation.

This extended duration provides opportunities for long-duration spaceflight research, including physiological adaptation and operational logistics.

The launch window opens at 6:00 a.m. EST (1100 GMT) on February 11, with two backup dates: February 12 (5:38 a.m. EST) and February 13 (5:15 a.m. EST).

The reduced ISS crew size may impact station operations, requiring adjustments to maintenance schedules and scientific experiments. NASA has not provided further details on the medical evacuation or Artemyev’s replacement.