The Crew-12 mission, including French astronaut Sophie Adenot, American Jessica Meir, American Jack Hathaway, and Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov, is nearing its end. After an extended stay, the crew is preparing to return to Earth. NASA and SpaceX are targeting an October 8 splashdown off the Californian coast, following an initial postponement from October 5 due to unfavorable weather conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
During a symbolic ceremony, outgoing commander Jessica Meir handed over operational responsibilities and the station's key to her successor, Russian cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov. This change of command marks an emotional moment for the crew, who are about to leave their "temporary home" and colleagues.
“"It's a bittersweet feeling. We're going to leave our friends, we're going to leave our temporary home. So it's a lot of mixed and swirling emotions for all of us."
Pyotr Dubrov, upon assuming command of Expedition 75, highlighted the historical significance of the day, coinciding with the anniversary of the first Sputnik launch. He described the International Space Station as a symbol of international cooperation and human achievement.
SpaceX's commercial Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to undock on Wednesday, October 7, at 7:05 AM Paris time. Mission teams continue to evaluate the weather situation every 48 hours to authorize the final departure. The return to Earth is planned for Thursday, October 8, around 5:25 PM French time.
Pyotr Dubrov received the symbolic ISS key from Jessica Meir in the Russian Zvezda module, in front of portraits of iconic figures in Russian astronautics. He will serve as commander until next spring.
