NASA sets SpaceX Crew-12 Earth return briefing for Sept 16
Astronauts of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission will hold a live news conference from the International Space Station at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Sept. 16 to outline their orbital research and upcoming return journey to Earth. NASA will broadcast the briefing directly from orbit as the four crew members conclude their long-duration operational stay.
Crew members and briefing access
The briefing features NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Media representatives must register with the Johnson Space Center newsroom in Houston by 5 p.m. on Sept. 15 to secure access. Participating journalists must enter the call at least ten minutes before the event begins under established agency rules.
Scientific investigations in orbit
Working as part of Expedition 74/75, the crew conducted hundreds of scientific investigations aimed at supporting deep space travel and enhancing terrestrial medicine. Their laboratory duties encompassed multiple key research areas:
- Research on pneumonia-causing bacteria to develop enhanced cardiovascular therapies
- On-demand production systems for intravenous fluids during spaceflights
- Studies on how individual physical traits influence human blood circulation in microgravity
Departure preparations will begin once Crew-13 docks at the complex and finishes the standard operational handover protocol with the current team. Teams monitor coastal weather. Flight controllers will carefully track offshore weather conditions across designated recovery zones off the California coast while the incoming Crew-13 personnel finalize the operational handover required before the four astronauts can safely undock their spacecraft to begin the homeward descent through Earth’s atmosphere.
The orbital laboratory has housed rotating human crews continuously for more than 25 years. This platform supports research for upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and planned human journeys to Mars, alongside efforts to expand commercial space operations.
