Four astronauts returned to Earth on Thursday, October 8, 2026, splashing down in a SpaceX capsule in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles after spending 237 days aboard the International Space Station, Antaranews reported. The crew of NASA-SpaceX Crew-12 included mission commander Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway of NASA, Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency, and Andrey Fedyaev of Russia, completing a mission that began in February 2026 as an emergency replacement flight, according to SOURCE 4.
Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean Following a 237-Day Mission
The SpaceX spacecraft touched down safely off the coast of Los Angeles, California, concluding an eight-month stay in orbit, Kompas.com reported. The return flight brought back four crew members representing the United States, Europe, and Russia. Following their recovery, the astronauts boarded helicopters for transport to Houston to undergo medical evaluations and reunite with their families.
Sophie Adenot Sets European Space Agency Endurance Record
Sophie Adenot logged 237 days in orbit, setting a new duration record for female astronauts within the European Space Agency, Kompas.com reported. During their time on station, Meir completed four spacewalks while Adenot performed three, maintaining and upgrading the 28-year-old laboratory facility.
Emergency Origins and Scientific Research in Orbit
The mission originated in February 2026 when Meir and her crew deployed to replace previous occupants who evacuated early due to a medical situation involving astronaut Mike Fincke, SOURCE 4 reported. While aboard, the crew conducted hundreds of hours of scientific investigations, including stem cell therapy development and the production of intravenous fluid technology for future space expeditions, Antaranews reported. The crew also monitored the Artemis II lunar flyby from orbit and celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States, an event marked by Meir playing the piccolo with the Boston Pops orchestra.
Questions answered about the Crew-12 mission
When did the Crew-12 mission launch to the International Space Station?
The mission began in February 2026 as an emergency flight to replace previous crew members who returned early.
Which space agencies were represented on the returning SpaceX capsule?
The four-person crew included personnel from NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Russian space program.
What record was broken during this orbital mission?
Sophie Adenot established a duration record for the longest spaceflight by a female European Space Agency astronaut by spending 237 days in orbit.