Crew-12: Astronauts and Canadian technology head to the International Space Station
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard. (Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched today, , from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft will lift off atop a Falcon 9 rocket and dock to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Crew Dragon spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Meir as commander and Jack Hathaway as pilot. European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev will complete the crew as mission specialists.
The vessel will also deliver Canadian Bio-Monitor smart shirt systems to the ISS which measure and record astronauts' vital signs.
During his ISS mission, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim wears the Bio-Monitor, which consists of a smart shirt, a headband, and a dedicated tablet application. (Credit: NASA)
Astronauts have lived and worked aboard the ISS for over 25 years, advancing science and research goals. The orbiting laboratory has contributed to understanding how the unique environment of microgravity impacts astronaut health. This will be crucial as humanity embarks on sustained missions to the Moon and eventually Mars.