Crew Dragon with Russian cosmonaut Fedyaev undocks from ISS
In short
The SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying the Crew-12 mission, including Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, undocked from the International Space Station at 15:05 Moscow time on 7 October, according to Roscosmos and SpaceX. The crew spent almost eight months in orbit and is scheduled to splash down off the coast of California on 8 October at 18:34 Moscow time, after which Crew-12 ends.
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The SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying the Crew-12 mission undocked from the International Space Station at 15:05 Moscow time on 7 October, according to statements from Roscosmos and SpaceX cited by iXBT and Vedomosti. On board are Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot. [ 2 , 3 ]
The crew spent almost eight months in orbit, having launched to the station on 13 February 2026. During the expedition, iXBT reported, the specialists took part in research on cancer treatment, bone tissue recovery and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The spacecraft is expected to spend about 27.5 hours on the return journey, with splashdown planned for 8 October at 18:34 Moscow time off the coast of California per Roscosmos and SpaceX, according to iXBT and Vedomosti. The Crew-12 mission ends once the crew is back on Earth. [ 2 , 3 ]
Vedomosti placed the return alongside other ISS developments: Roscosmos director general Dmitry Bakanov said on 22 September that Russia and the United States would extend operation of the station from 2028 to 2030, adding that this would not affect the timeline for building the Russian orbital station. On 1 October, Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Teteryatnikov flew to the ISS as part of the Crew-13 mission with NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney and Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, Vedomosti reported. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The return closes a mission that kept a Russian cosmonaut on the ISS alongside NASA and ESA crew members, at a time when Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said Russia and the United States would extend ISS operation from 2028 to 2030, according to Vedomosti. The documents give no further basis for consequences beyond the completion of Crew-12 and the scheduled splashdown.
Key facts
- The Crew Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station at 15:05 Moscow time on 7 October, Roscosmos and SpaceX said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- On board are Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The crew spent almost eight months in orbit; the spacecraft launched to the ISS on 13 February 2026. [ 2 ]
- Splashdown is planned for 8 October at 18:34 Moscow time off the coast of California, after about 27.5 hours of travel. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The mission will end once the crew returns to Earth. [ 2 ]
- During the expedition the crew took part in research on cancer treatment, bone tissue recovery and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [ 2 ]
- Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said on 22 September that Russia and the United States would extend ISS operation from 2028 to 2030, without affecting the timeline for building the Russian orbital station. [ 3 ]
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergei Teteryatnikov flew to the ISS with the Crew-13 mission on 1 October, alongside NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney and Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Crew Dragon undocked from the ISS at 15:05 Moscow time on 7 October. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Crew-12 crew includes Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Splashdown is planned for 8 October at 18:34 Moscow time in California. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Details of the scientific results from the Crew-12 expedition. The documents list the research areas but give no findings or outcomes.
- Whether the scheduled splashdown time could shift. No document mentions any change to the plan; the time is stated as planned.
- What follows for the ISS crew and programme after Crew-12 ends. The documents state only that the mission ends after the crew returns; Vedomosti separately reports the planned extension of ISS operation to 2030, without linking it to this return.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Crew Dragon with the Crew-12 mission undocks from the International Space Station, according to Roscosmos and SpaceX. [ 2 , 3 ]
- RIA Novosti publishes its report that the spacecraft with cosmonaut Fedyaev has undocked. [ 1 ]
- iXBT publishes its account of the undocking and the planned return. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti publishes its report, citing Roscosmos. [ 3 ]
- Splashdown planned on 8 October off the coast of California, after about 27.5 hours of travel. [ 2 , 3 ]