New Delhi, Jan 29: NASA has announced that the next astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will launch earlier than expected. The SpaceX Crew-12 mission is now scheduled for liftoff on February 11, four days ahead of the original timeline.

The mission will send four astronauts — Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), along with Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos — to reinforce the orbital laboratory, which is currently being operated by just three crew members following an unprecedented medical evacuation.

Fedyaev joined the mission as a late replacement for Oleg Artemyev, who was removed in December under circumstances linked to US national security regulations.

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On January 14, Crew-11 departed the ISS earlier than planned due to a medical emergency, leaving the station with a skeleton crew responsible for maintenance and ongoing scientific investigations.

Crew-12 was initially set to overlap with Crew-11 before their return, but the accelerated schedule means they will now directly replace them. NASA and SpaceX managed to prepare the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft “Grace” ahead of schedule, enabling the earlier launch.

This mission will be longer than usual, lasting nine months instead of the typical six. For Meir and Fedyaev, it marks their second journey into space, while Hathaway and Adenot will be making their debut flights. Fedyaev also brings prior experience from a long-duration mission, adding valuable expertise to the crew.

The launch window opens on February 11 at 6:00 am EST (1100 GMT) from Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Should weather or technical issues cause delays, NASA has designated backup launch opportunities on February 12 and 13.

Once aboard the ISS, the Crew-12 astronauts will join NASA’s Chris Williams and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev as part of Expedition 74. Their mission will eventually transition into Expedition 75 before the end of their rotation.

NASA emphasizes that the February 11 date is the earliest possible target, but the agency remains flexible with backup options. The mission is expected to provide crucial support to the ISS, ensuring continuity in scientific research and station operations during this extended rotation.