NASA stresses ISS crew safety as it gears up for next astronaut launch

"The upcoming Crew-12 consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Currently, Crew-12 is set to launch sometime in the next two weeksthe exact date has not yet been confirmed because NASA plans to launch Artemis II, its first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years, in the next week and a half."

"At a press conference on Friday, NASA associate administrator Ken Bowersox emphasized the safety of both the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions as paramount to deciding when, exactly, the former will launch to the station. Artemis II is set for a wet dress rehearsal, a crucial test of its fueling systems, on Monday. How that goes will determine when it launches; NASA has suggested the launch will occur no earlier than February 8."

NASA will launch Crew-12 to the ISS, comprising Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev. Launch timing is tentatively within the next two weeks but is contingent on the Artemis II schedule. Artemis II will undergo a wet dress rehearsal to test fueling systems; its outcome will determine a potential February 8 earliest launch and could delay Crew-12. Crew-12 replaces Crew-11, which evacuated early due to an undisclosed medical condition affecting one astronaut. NASA leadership has emphasized safety as the top priority and noted historical concerns about launches in January and February owing to past disasters.

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