SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom Capsule Docks at ISS Kicking Off ESA’s Historic Epsilon Mission

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on February 14, 2026, at 20:15 GMT (21:15 CET), signaling the beginning of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) epsilon mission.

The crew, comprising ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, was launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on February 13 at 10:15 GMT (11:15 CET). After approximately 34 hours of orbit, the team executed their docking procedures in preparation for their arrival at the ISS. During this period, first-time flyers Adenot and Hathaway, both seasoned test pilots, took the opportunity to acclimate to life and work in a microgravity environment.

Upon their arrival, Crew-12 was greeted by current ISS occupants, including NASA astronaut Christopher Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikayev, who have been aboard the station since November 2025. A brief ceremony followed the opening of the hatches, during which both Adenot and Hathaway were presented with their astronaut wings by Station Commander Kud-Sverchkov. The crew expressed their appreciation to the teams at NASA and SpaceX for the smooth flight and conveyed their eagerness to begin their scientific endeavors.

The epsilon mission, projected to last up to nine months, is anticipated to be the longest ESA mission yet. While at the station, Sophie Adenot will take on the role of crew specialist for both the European Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Kibo module. She’s set to oversee the execution of up to 36 scientific experiments, including seven specifically designed for this mission by the French space agency CNES. These experiments will cover a diverse range of topics, including human physiology, climate studies, and technological advancements, with aims to improve life on Earth and support future explorations.

ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, Daniel Neuenschwander, noted the significance of the epsilon mission. He emphasized the agency’s commitment to ensuring a sustained human presence in low-Earth orbit, particularly through scientific missions. Neuenschwander highlighted Adenot as the first astronaut from the Class of 2022, known as the “Hoppers,” to fly and praised her exceptional performance during training.

Adenot plans to share her experiences and insights from the ISS through her social media platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Further information about the epsilon mission can be found on the ESA’s official epsilon web page.