Crew-12’s Four Space Travelers Prepare to Leave the Station
undocking（undocking）
When a spacecraft leaves a space station.
deorbit burn（deorbit burn）
An engine firing that helps a spacecraft return toward Earth.
splashdown（splashdown）
Landing in the sea.
NASA, the U.S. space agency, and SpaceX, a spaceflight company, have announced a planned return for the four members of Crew-12. The agency also published a live coverage schedule. The notice was updated Oct. 6, 2026, but it describes a plan, not a completed landing. NASA’s official advisory
What is happening?
NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 8:05 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, Oct. 7, for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft to undock from the International Space Station. No earlier than means 8:05 is the earliest target, not a promise. The plan depends on weather and other operational conditions.
Who is returning?
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway will return with Sophie Adenot, an astronaut from the European Space Agency, and Andrey Fedyaev, a cosmonaut from Roscosmos. If the Oct. 7 undocking happens as planned, NASA expects splashdown off California at about 11:34 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Oct. 8. The times in the schedule are Eastern and may change during real-time operations.
The return timeline
Coverage begins at 6 a.m. Wednesday for hatch closure. Hatch closing is planned for 6:20 a.m. Undocking coverage begins at 7:45 a.m., followed by the targeted undocking at 8:05 a.m. Afterward, NASA will provide audio-only communications among Crew-12, the station, and flight controllers while Dragon travels away.
On Thursday, return coverage begins at 10:20 a.m. NASA lists a deorbit burn at 10:46 a.m. and splashdown at 11:34 a.m. A 1:15 p.m. station briefing will discuss the Crew-12 return and SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services-35 launch.
Why the details matter
These times show that returning from orbit is a chain of linked operations. The spacecraft must be ready. The recovery team must be ready. Weather over the Pacific recovery area must also cooperate. NASA says managers are monitoring those conditions. A change in one part can move the schedule, so the public should treat every time as a target.
What is confirmed
The confirmed news is the coverage plan, the four crew members, the planned route, and the conditions NASA is watching. NASA says the return will stream through multiple platforms, including its NASA Live page. It will also share spacecraft and ground communications after undocking. Those details make it possible to follow the operation step by step, even when the spacecraft is traveling away from the station.
What is still unknown
The advisory does not confirm that undocking or splashdown has already happened. It also cannot guarantee the exact time. Weather, spacecraft readiness, recovery-team readiness, and decisions made during operations could change the plan. The notice gives a schedule to watch, not a final result.
What to watch next
Viewers should check NASA Live for the latest timing. The key checkpoints are hatch closure, undocking, the deorbit burn, and splashdown. NASA also plans a briefing after the return window. The next update will show whether Crew-12 follows the announced timeline or moves to a new one. NASA’s Crew-12 return notice
NASA Plans a Live Look at Crew-12’s Trip Home
📰 Full story: Crew-12’s Four Space Travelers Prepare to Leave the Station
Four space travelers are scheduled to leave the space station. NASA says the timing can still change.
undocking（undocking）
When a spacecraft leaves a space station.
deorbit burn（deorbit burn）
An engine firing that helps a spacecraft return toward Earth.
splashdown（splashdown）
Landing in the sea.
💡 The gist
- Crew-12 plans to leave the space station on Oct. 7.
- The four travelers may splash down near California on Oct. 8.
- NASA will stream the return and share schedule updates.
NASA, the U.S. space agency, and SpaceX, a spaceflight company, announced the plan. The crew will ride SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. Dragon will first leave the International Space Station, or ISS. Leaving the station is called undocking.
The earliest target for undocking is 8:05 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Oct. 7. Earliest target means the event may happen later. It does not mean the time is guaranteed.
The crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway. It also includes Sophie Adenot from the European Space Agency. Andrey Fedyaev is from Roscosmos. NASA expects the Dragon to splash down off California at about 11:34 a.m. Eastern time on Oct. 8.
Why can the time change? The spacecraft must be ready. The recovery team must be ready. Weather over the Pacific must also be safe enough. Mission managers keep checking these conditions. This is why a space return needs more than a simple clock.
NASA’s schedule starts before the spacecraft leaves. Coverage begins at 6 a.m. on Oct. 7. Hatch closing is planned for 6:20 a.m. Undocking coverage begins at 7:45 a.m. After undocking, NASA will share audio from the crew, station, and flight controllers.
On Oct. 8, return coverage begins at 10:20 a.m. NASA lists a deorbit burn at 10:46 a.m. A deorbit burn is an engine firing that helps the spacecraft leave its space path for Earth. Splashdown is planned for 11:34 a.m. NASA also plans a 1:15 p.m. station briefing.
These are plans, not final results. NASA’s notice does not say that Crew-12 has already undocked or landed. Watch NASA Live for changes. The most important checkpoints are undocking, the deorbit burn, and splashdown. NASA’s official advisory
Four Space Travelers Are Coming Home
📰 Full story: Crew-12’s Four Space Travelers Prepare to Leave the Station
NASA shared a plan for four people to leave their space home.
space station（space station）
A place where people live in space.
splashdown（splashdown）
Landing in the sea.
NASA (the U.S. space agency) watches space missions. SpaceX (a spaceflight company) made their Dragon spacecraft. Crew-12 is a team of four space travelers.
They live on the International Space Station. It is like a big home in space. They will leave it on Oct. 7. This leaving is called undocking.
Dragon will carry them toward Earth. They may splash down near California on Oct. 8. Splashdown means landing in the sea.
NASA will show the trip live. The plan has times for each step. The first time is not a promise. Bad weather can change the plan. The spacecraft must also be ready. People waiting in the sea must be ready too.
NASA will share new times when needed. We can watch NASA Live together. NASA’s official advisory