The four astronauts splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near Los Angeles on October 8, 2026, bringing their extended space mission to an end.
During their time in orbit, they travelled more than 100 million miles and completed over 3,792 orbits around Earth.
The returning crew comprised NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Their spacecraft, Crew Dragon Freedom, touched down at 8:34 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
SpaceX recovery teams subsequently reached the capsule and brought the astronauts and spacecraft aboard a recovery vessel.
The astronauts underwent routine medical evaluations before preparations for their return to shore and onward travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Meir and Fedyaev completed their second space missions, while Hathaway and Adenot experienced spaceflight for the first time.
Beyond travelling millions of miles, the crew conducted scientific investigations aimed at improving human health and supporting longer journeys into space.
One experiment explored methods of producing stem cells in space, which could potentially contribute to future cell-based medical treatments.
Another demonstrated technology for producing intravenous fluids on demand, an approach that could prove valuable during extended missions far from Earth.
Researchers also investigated how bacteria responsible for pneumonia might contribute to lasting heart damage.
The findings could help improve understanding of cardiovascular health.
Other studies examined nutrition in space and how individual physical characteristics influence blood flow during spaceflight.
Such research is important for understanding the health challenges astronauts face during prolonged exposure to microgravity.
The experiments could help scientists develop better ways to protect astronauts as space agencies prepare for more ambitious missions.
Crew-12 also recorded important milestones in space exploration.
Meir completed four spacewalks during the mission, bringing her career total to seven.
This placed her third among NASA women for the highest number of career spacewalks, behind former astronauts Peggy Whitson and Suni Williams.
Adenot completed three spacewalks, becoming the first French woman to venture outside the International Space Station.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the crew and the thousands of professionals whose work supported the mission, highlighting the importance of building experience and confidence for repeated human spaceflight.
With the astronauts safely home, the mission adds valuable scientific knowledge and operational experience to preparations for future journeys beyond Earth’s orbit.
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