NASA confirms Crew-12 launch to ISS after medical evacuation

NASA said Crew-12 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 early Wednesday to re-staff the International Space Station after a recent medical evacuation, and the FAA has cleared the Falcon 9 to return to flight following an engine ignition investigation.

NASA announced that four astronauts will launch next week to re-staff the International Space Station after a recent medical evacuation shortened the previous mission. The mission, known as Crew-12, is scheduled to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 early Wednesday with a targeted time of no earlier than 6:01 am local (1101 GMT). The confirmation follows a temporary grounding of Falcon 9 rockets while the FAA investigated a reported stage 2 engine failure to ignite, and the agency said the vehicle is now authorized to return to flight. The ISS has been operating with a reduced crew of three since the earlier evacuation. What is known: - NASA says Crew-12 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 early Wednesday, with launch time targeted for no earlier than 6:01 am local (1101 GMT). - The FAA authorized Falcon 9 to return to flight after investigating a reported stage 2 engine ignition failure that prompted a temporary grounding. - Crew-12 is composed of Andrey Fedyaev, Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway and Sophie Adenot; one crew change was previously announced in November. - Crew-11 returned to Earth in January about a month earlier than planned during the first medical evacuation in the station's history; NASA has declined to disclose details of the health issue. - The ISS orbits roughly 250 miles (400 kilometres) above Earth, has been continuously inhabited for about 25 years, and is scheduled for retirement and deorbiting in 2030. Summary: Crew-12's scheduled launch would restore a full crew complement on the ISS following the medical evacuation and a temporary Falcon 9 grounding. The FAA's return-to-flight authorization cleared the way for the mission, and operational and medical details related to the earlier evacuation remain undisclosed.