NASA and SpaceX have scheduled the departure of the Crew-12 mission from the International Space Station. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is set to undock no earlier than 1:05 AM EDT on October 7. This decision follows a comprehensive assessment of weather conditions and sea states near the California coast, where the splashdown is expected to occur.
The crew returning to Earth includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. The spacecraft is currently projected to splash down around 11:25 AM EDT on October 8, though officials note that the exact timing and location remain subject to change based on real-time environmental data.
Mission teams will conduct a final evaluation of the landing zone conditions approximately 48 hours before the scheduled undocking. The operation remains contingent on the readiness of the spacecraft, recovery teams, and favorable weather. On October 4, the Crew-12 members officially handed over their duties to the incoming crew, marking the end of their mission tenure.
During the transition ceremony held on October 4, Jessica Meir formally transferred command of the International Space Station to Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov. This handover signifies the completion of the operational shift for the departing team as they prepare for their return journey to Earth.
