SpaceX Crew 12 astronauts return to Earth after seven month mission

Four astronauts returned to Earth on Thursday after spending 237 days in space aboard the International Space Station. ScienceDaily Space and Time and SciTechDaily both report that the uncrewed spacecraft carrying the NASA SpaceX Crew-12 mission splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Times also reported the landing off the coast of Los Angeles. [1][4][5]

According to ScienceDaily Space and Time, the crew traveled more than 100 million miles and completed over 3,792 orbits around Earth. During their time aboard the orbiting laboratory, the crew conducted medical research and scientific experiments to prepare for future human missions to the Moon and Mars. ScienceDaily Space and Time noted that the mission featured record-setting spacewalk achievements and medical experiments that could benefit life on Earth. [1]

As FTMQ Space reported earlier, the uncrewed SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft launched on February 13, 2026, as part of the Commercial Crew Program of NASA. The four-member crew included NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. [6]

The return concludes more than seven months of continuous operations aboard the space station for the Crew-12 team. The scientific data collected during their stay will support ongoing medical research and future exploration plans under the Artemis program. [1]