NASA holds Crew-12 farewell as International Space Station prepares for command change
NASA held its SpaceX Crew-12 farewell and International Space Station change-of-command event on October 4, 2026. NASA's event page confirms that the scheduled ceremony has now occurred as the four Crew-12 members prepare to return to Earth.
The departing crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
The ceremony was scheduled to include Meir transferring command of the International Space Station to Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov as Crew-12 handed mission responsibilities to the crew remaining aboard the orbital laboratory.
Crew-12 departure moved to no earlier than October 7
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than 1:05 a.m. EDT on October 7 for Crew-12 to undock from the International Space Station. The timing was set following a review of weather and splashdown conditions off the California coast.
If the current schedule is maintained, the four crew members are expected to splash down off California at about 11:25 a.m. EDT on October 8.
Weather will determine the final return schedule
NASA says the exact return time and location have not yet been finalized. Undocking depends on spacecraft readiness, recovery teams, weather and sea conditions.
Mission managers will conduct another weather review approximately 48 hours before the planned undocking. NASA and SpaceX will select the specific splashdown location closer to departure.
