SpaceX Dragon Freedom Successfully Docks with ISS Carrying Crew for ESA’s Epsilon Mission

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on February 14, at 20:15 GMT, as it carried a diverse crew of astronauts and cosmonauts for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) εpsilon mission. This launch took place on February 13, when the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:15 GMT, marking the beginning of a significant journey for four space explorers: ESA’s Sophie Adenot, NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, alongside Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.

After approximately 34 hours in orbit, the Crew-12 astronauts prepared for their docking approach to the ISS. For both Adenot and Hathaway, this marks their inaugural flight into space. They used their time in orbit to acclimate to the unique environment of microgravity, an essential aspect of their mission.

Upon arrival, the crew was welcomed aboard the ISS by existing members, including NASA astronaut Christopher Williams and cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, who had been aboard since November 2025. During a small ceremony, Crew-12 received their astronaut wings from Kud-Sverchkov, expressing gratitude to the teams at NASA and SpaceX for a seamless flight, and their enthusiasm to start their work on the ISS.

The εpsilon mission is designed to last as long as nine months, potentially setting a record for ESA’s long-duration mission with astronauts. During this period, Adenot will act as a crew specialist for the European Columbus module and the Japanese Kibo module. Her agenda includes overseeing 36 experiments, seven of which have been developed by France’s CNES, all aimed at exploring various scientific fields such as human health, climate studies, and technology validation. The results of these experiments are expected to contribute to both life on Earth and upcoming missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, emphasized the significance of the εpsilon mission in maintaining ongoing human presence in low-Earth orbit. He highlighted Adenot’s exceptional performance, noting she’s the first astronaut from the 2022 class, dubbed the “Hoppers,” to make it to space, having swiftly progressed from training to conducting mission-specific activities.

Throughout the mission, Adenot will share her experiences and updates from orbit on her various social media platforms, allowing the public to follow along with her scientific endeavors and daily life aboard the ISS. More information about the εpsilon mission and its scientific objectives can be found on the ESA’s dedicated mission page.