Making an Entrance

NASA

by Monika Luabeya

February 25, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway and his Crew-12 team—Jessica Meir of NASA, Sophie Adenot of ESA, and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos—made history as they docked their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station (ISS) on February 14, 2026. This milestone marked the beginning of Expedition 74, a long-duration mission focused on advancing microgravity research. The crew is conducting groundbreaking experiments to improve health monitoring for astronauts and enhance understanding of spatial orientation in zero gravity using virtual reality technology. The Crew-12 members have already initiated several key investigations during their time aboard the ISS. One experiment involves scanning their veins to assess the risk of blood clots, a critical concern for long-term space missions. Another innovative project uses VR goggles to study balance and spatial awareness in microgravity environments. These efforts not only contribute to human health research but also pave the way for future deep-space exploration, such as NASA's Artemis program aiming to return humans to the Moon and beyond. The work being done on the ISS by Crew-12 is vital for both scientific progress and practical applications on Earth. Their experiments demonstrate how space missions can address real-world medical challenges while driving technological advancements. By pushing the boundaries of what we know about living and working in space, these astronauts are helping to shape humanity's future beyond our planet. For those interested in space exploration, this mission highlights the ongoing importance of international collaboration and the potential benefits for life on Earth.

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Originally published on NASA on 2/25/2026