NASA's Crew-12 returns after record 237-day, 100 million mile mission

NASA’s SpaceX Crew‑12 astronauts returned to Earth after 237 days in orbit, splashing down in the Pacific on Friday after traveling more than 100 million miles and completing 3,792 orbits around the planet. The crew of four — Commander Chris Cassidy, Pilot Kayla Barron, Mission Specialist Andrew Morgan and Mission Specialist Megan McArthur — landed safely at the Pacific Ocean Recovery Facility in Guam, marking the end of the longest crewed mission in history for the International Space Station.

The mission’s timing is part of NASA’s push to build a sustainable human presence beyond low‑Earth orbit. After the Artemis I and II test flights, the agency is accelerating plans for a lunar outpost that will serve as a stepping‑stone to Mars. Crew‑12’s extended stay allowed scientists to gather data on how long‑duration spaceflight affects human health, how to manage life‑support systems, and how to conduct complex experiments in microgravity. The findings will feed directly into the design of future habitats and medical protocols for deep‑space missions.

Crew‑12 also broke several records during its stay. The astronauts performed 12 spacewalks, more than any previous ISS crew, to install new power and communication equipment and to test a novel, lightweight tether system that could aid future lunar surface operations. In addition, they ran a series of biomedical experiments, including a study of bone‑loss mitigation using a new drug and a test of a wearable sensor that tracks heart‑rate variability in real time. Early results suggest the sensor can detect early signs of infection, a breakthrough that could improve patient care on Earth and on long missions.

After the return, the crew will undergo a 30‑day recovery period before moving on to the next phase of NASA’s human‑spaceflight program. Their data will be analyzed by the agency’s Human Research Program to refine guidelines for crew health and safety. Meanwhile, the SpaceX Crew‑12 module will be refurbished for the next flight, and NASA will begin integrating the new power system into the ISS’s infrastructure. The mission’s success strengthens the partnership between NASA and SpaceX and brings humanity one step closer to living and working on the Moon and eventually Mars.