NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑12 mission reaches the International Space Station today, February 14, 2026, in what the agency has dubbed a “Valentine’s Day docking.” The Crew Dragon capsule, christened Freedom, is slated to grapple the station’s Harmony module at roughly 3:15 p.m. EST (20:15 GMT), concluding a 34‑hour flight that began with a predawn launch from Cape Canaveral on February 13.
Four astronauts – NASA commander Jessica Meir, NASA pilot Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot (French) and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev (Russian) – will join the ISS crew for an eight‑month stay. Their arrival restores the station’s full complement of seven crew members after a month of operating with a skeletal crew.
Live docking schedule and how to watch
NASA will stream the rendezvous and docking on its official webcast. The feed opens at 1:15 p.m. EST (18:15 GMT), giving viewers a window to watch the final approach before the scheduled 3:15 p.m. Docking. The hatch is expected to open around 5:00 p.m. EST, followed by a brief welcome ceremony.
- 1:15 p.m. EST – Live NASA rendezvous and docking webcast begins
- 3:15 p.m. EST – Autonomous docking of Crew‑12 Dragon to the ISS
- 5:00 p.m. EST – Hatch opening and crew greeting
Space.com’s Spaceflight Editor Mike Wall has compiled a dedicated docking‑webcast guide that appears at the top of the live page. The stream is also available via NASA’s official channels on NASA+, YouTube and Amazon Prime.
From launch to orbit: key milestones
The mission lifted off on schedule at 5:15 a.m. EST (10:15 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 on a Falcon 9 rocket. Within eight minutes the first stage separated and performed a controlled return to Landing Pad 40, marking a clean touchdown on the company’s newest landing pad.
“It turns out Friday the 13th is a very lucky day,” flight controllers radioed the crew as the upper stage deployed the Dragon capsule into its target orbit. Commander Jessica Meir responded, “Thank you team, that was quite a ride, we have left the Earth, but the Earth has not left us.”
Shortly after insertion, the nose cone covering the docking port opened, and the crew exchanged a brief inspirational message: “We’re reminded that we’re all connected,” one astronaut said. “Accept care of one another and keep reaching higher. That’s how human beings soar and how we make each other proud.”
Mission control confirmed nominal trajectory with the concise exchange, “Dragon, SpaceX, nominal trajectory,” followed by the crew’s acknowledgment, “Dragon copies.”
Crew‑12 background and significance
Crew‑12 replaces the earlier Crew‑11 team, which returned to Earth early in January after the first-ever medical evacuation from the ISS. The expedited launch – originally slated for March – was moved up to fill the staffing gap, a decision echoed by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who said, “With Crew‑12 safely on orbit, America and our international partners once again demonstrated the professionalism, preparation, and teamwork required for human spaceflight.”NASA press release
During the launch, the crew also unveiled a handcrafted zero‑gravity indicator – a crocheted “Gaia Earth” model with four satellite charms representing each astronaut. Meir explained that the tiny moon attached to the model symbolizes her own presence, although the bananas attached to a satellite represent mission specialist Sophie Adenot.CNBC report
What’s next after docking?
Following hatch opening, the four newcomers will begin the handover process, transfer personal and scientific equipment, and start their eight‑month research campaign aboard the orbiting laboratory. NASA plans to continue live coverage of the initial station‑board activities, and the agency will release a post‑docking briefing later this evening.
Stay tuned to Archyde for updates on the crew’s first experiments, the integration of the new international partners, and any further announcements from NASA and SpaceX.
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