NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 to Launch Early for Space Station Thanks to Moon Mission Delay

The all-star crew includes ‘Hero of the Russian Federation’ Andrey Fedyaev, NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir, and the first French female astronaut in 25 years.

The four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station: (L-R) Roscosmos cosmonaut and Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, Commander and Pilot respectively, and European Space Agency astronaut and Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot. Courtesy of NASA

With Artemis II’s moonshot pushed back to March, a launch window is open to send an all-star crew to the International Space Station in low Earth orbit.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 could launch as early as 6:01 a.m. ET on Feb. 11 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Station—a spot just three launch pads and a handful of miles south of the Artemis II moon rocket. This was the earliest launch attempt possible, but it would not have been attainable if NASA attempted to fly to the moon this month.