NASA's Crew-12 Returns to Earth After Eight Months in Space
Four crew members have returned from the International Space Station, ending nearly eight months of research and spacewalks, with NASA announcing a briefing to discuss the mission.
By Hushread Stories, written with AI from 8 outlets · First published 8 Oct 2026
In brief
- Four members of NASA's Crew 12 mission returned to Earth on Thursday, October 8, after nearly eight months.
- The returning crew included Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot and Andrey Fedyaev aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom.
- The crew left the International Space Station on October 7 before splashing down off California the following day.
- Their stay aboard the station included spacewalks, science experiments and research during nearly eight months in orbit.
- NASA has announced a briefing to discuss the completed mission, though the supplied coverage gives no timing.
Timeline · 4 moments
Crew Dragon Freedom splashes down with four aboard
NASA Breaking News Space ↗Mission recap describes spacewalks, science experiments and research
NPR News ↗Four astronauts undock from station for return to Earth
India Today ↗Eight-month station mission approaches its scheduled Thursday finish
CBS Top Stories ↗How it started
Crew-12's journey home followed nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station. The crew conducted spacewalks, science experiments and research during that stay, according to NPR News.
NASA Breaking News Space identified the returning crew as NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Their return spacecraft was SpaceX's Crew Dragon Freedom.
How it unfolded
On October 7, the four crew members undocked from the space station to begin their return to Earth, as reported by India Today.
That day, CBS Top Stories reported that the crew was expected to finish its eight-month mission with a splashdown on Thursday, October 8.
On October 8, the SpaceX capsule returned and splashed down off the coast of California, according to Bloomberg. NASA Breaking News Space confirmed the Crew-12 splashdown and named the four people aboard Freedom.
There is a discrepancy in the coverage: the October 8 summary from CBS Top Stories calls the returning fliers "Crew 13," while NASA Breaking News Space identifies the mission as Crew-12. The supplied reports do not explain that difference.
Where it stands
The crew is back on Earth, and its nearly eight-month station mission is complete. NPR News reported the return on October 8, while Bloomberg confirmed the capsule's splashdown off California.
The supplied coverage establishes the successful return but provides little detail about the crew's recovery after landing or the results of individual experiments.
What to watch
NASA Breaking News Space announced a briefing to discuss the mission. That is the next concrete follow-up identified in the coverage, although the supplied summary does not give its time or list the participants.
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