SpaceX Crew-12 Astronauts Return Home Thursday

Four astronauts who've been living and working 250 miles above Earth are coming home this week, bringing their mission on the International Space Station to a successful close.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway will undock from the space station Wednesday morning at 8:05 a.m. EDT, along with their crewmates Sophie Adenot from the European Space Agency and Andrey Fedyaev from Roscosmos. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying all four is scheduled to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California's coast at 11:34 a.m. on Thursday.

The mission represents another milestone in international cooperation in space. Scientists and engineers from three space agencies worked together throughout the mission, conducting research that benefits people back on Earth.

Viewers around the world can watch the entire return journey unfold in real time. NASA will begin streaming hatch closure coverage at 6 a.m. Wednesday, followed by undocking coverage at 7:45 a.m.

Thursday's splashdown coverage starts at 10:20 a.m., letting space enthusiasts witness the crew's fiery reentry through Earth's atmosphere and their safe landing in the Pacific. Recovery teams will be standing by to welcome the astronauts home after their time in orbit.

The Ripple Effect

This successful mission shows how routine spaceflight has become, with crews regularly rotating to and from the orbital laboratory. Each mission builds on the last, expanding our understanding of how humans can live and work in space while advancing research in medicine, materials science, and technology.

The partnership between NASA, SpaceX, ESA, and Roscosmos demonstrates what's possible when nations work together toward shared goals. Their collaboration keeps the space station operating as a platform for discoveries that improve life on Earth.

After splashdown, mission managers will hold a briefing at 1:15 p.m. to share highlights from Crew-12's time in space and discuss upcoming missions. The International Space Station continues to host rotating crews who push the boundaries of human exploration.

Another crew is already preparing for their journey to continue the work aboard humanity's home in orbit.