NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑12 Mission Concludes as Astronauts Return to Earth

NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑12 crew—Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA’s Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev—has finished its station science mission and is scheduled to return home in early October. During the stay, the team advanced research in several key areas. Microgravity crystal‑growth experiments improved understanding of pharmaceutical structures, while the Cold Atom Lab’s upgraded setup yielded more data for quantum‑technology development. Bone‑regeneration studies using wood‑based scaffolds and bone‑marrow analogs offered insights into countering space‑induced bone loss. Additional work on antibiotic‑resistant bacteria, stem‑cell expansion, and on‑orbit 3D printing of metal parts and IV fluids demonstrated practical benefits for long‑duration spaceflight and potential Earth‑bound medical applications. The mission’s findings will inform future deep‑space exploration and enhance health technologies on Earth.