January 30, 2026
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NASA stresses ISS crew security because it gears up for subsequent astronaut launch
After evacuating 4 astronauts from the ISS final month, NASA is looking forward to its subsequent crewed mission to the house station
NASA is gearing as much as launch a brand new crew to the Worldwide House Station (ISS). However after an unprecedented evacuation of 4 astronauts from the station final month—a primary within the historical past of the ISS—the house company is particularly emphasizing security this time round.
The upcoming Crew-12 consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European House Company astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. At the moment, Crew-12 is about to launch someday within the subsequent two weeks—the precise date has not but been confirmed as a result of NASA plans to launch Artemis II, its first crewed mission to the moon in additional than 50 years, within the subsequent week and a half.
Crew-12 is the alternative for Crew-11, which was evacuated from the house station weeks forward of schedule due to an undisclosed medical situation affecting one of many astronauts within the staff.
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At a press convention on Friday, NASA affiliate administrator Ken Bowersox emphasised the security of each the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions as paramount to deciding when, precisely, the previous will launch to the station. Artemis II is about for a moist costume rehearsal, an important take a look at of its fueling programs, on Monday. How that goes will decide when it launches; NASA has advised the launch will happen no sooner than February 8. If that date shifts again additional, it may additionally push again Crew-12’s departure from Earth.
Nodding to 2 of NASA’s worst moments in human house exploration, the Challenger and Columbia disasters, during which 14 astronauts in complete died, Bowersox stated that any launch within the month of January or February has all the time weighed on folks’s thoughts a NASA. “When you look again in historical past, that’s after we’ve misplaced spaceflight crews previously,” Bowersox stated. “We all the time take into consideration how we will function our mission safely, and I simply need to reassure you that that’s all the time within the entrance of our minds as we’re engaged on these missions.”
The company’s work to coordinate the return of Crew-11 and the launches of Artemis II and Crew-12 inside such a short while span has been notably tough, he stated.
On Friday NASA officers stated there have been no further medical exams for Crew-12 or different modifications to the protocol for preparation forward of dwelling on the ISS, given the medical problem that brought about Crew-11’s sudden return. At a separate information convention on Friday, NASA astronaut Meir confirmed that the 4 members of Crew-12 had not undergone any further well being testing.
Dina Contella, NASA’s Worldwide House Station Program deputy supervisor, stated the ISS is able to obtain Crew-12, though she acknowledged the crew members’ arrival can be uncommon. Departing crews usually have a while to indicate their replacements among the quirks of the ISS. However when Crew-12 arrives, the crew members might be greeted by NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who will have the ability to present them the ropes.
“We’re not monitoring any issues in anyway with not having that direct handover,” she stated.
Meir stated the 4 members of Crew-12 have been in touch with Crew-11 for the reason that latter returned to the bottom. “We don’t assume there’ll be any hiccups alongside the best way,” she stated.
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