By: The Trek News Desk
In a major step forward for human spaceflight, SpaceX successfully launched its 12th long-duration crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission carries four astronauts, two from the United States, one from France, and one from Russia, who will spend nearly eight months conducting scientific research in Earth’s orbit.
The launch took place on Friday at approximately 5:15 a.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. A two-stage Falcon 9 rocket powered the mission, with the autonomous Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft mounted on top.
As the nine Merlin engines ignited, the rocket soared into the early morning sky, producing a bright plume of flame and vapour. The dramatic liftoff was broadcast live via a joint NASA-SpaceX webcast.
After a flight lasting about 34 hours, the Crew-12 team is expected to dock with the ISS on Saturday afternoon. The orbiting laboratory circles Earth at an altitude of roughly 420 kilometres.
Crew-12 marks the 12th long-duration ISS expedition flown by NASA aboard a SpaceX vehicle since the partnership began sending astronauts into orbit in 2020.
The mission is commanded by NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, 48, who is making her second journey to space. She is joined by:
- Jack Hathaway, a former U.S. Navy pilot and first-time astronaut
- Sophie Adenot of France, representing the European Space Agency
- Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, embarking on his second ISS mission
According to NASA, the crew will undertake a broad range of scientific, medical, and technical experiments aboard the ISS. Research activities include studying bacteria responsible for pneumonia to improve treatments on Earth, as well as examining plant and nitrogen-fixing microbe interactions aimed at enhancing food production both in space and on our planet.
The ISS remains the largest human-made structure in space, stretching the length of a football field. It is operated through a multinational partnership led by the United States and Russia, with contributions from Canada, Japan, and 11 European nations.
The first components of the station were launched over 25 years ago, conceived as a collaborative initiative to strengthen international ties in the post-Cold War era.
NASA has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining ISS operations through the end of 2030.
With the successful launch of Crew-12, NASA and SpaceX continue to expand the frontiers of scientific discovery and international cooperation in space exploration.
Source: News Agencies
