SpaceX's Crew-12 Mission Restores Full Astronaut Team to ISS

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AI Summary
A SpaceX capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, bringing the crew count back to full capacity after a previous emergency evacuation left only three astronauts aboard. The Crew-12 mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 5:17 a.m. EST on Friday and took over 30 hours to reach the ISS. NASA had to expedite the launch due to staffing shortages but faced weather-related delays earlier in the week. The return of a full crew is crucial for the ISS's operational efficiency, which costs approximately $3 billion annually. The new crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
Key Details: • Crew-12 launched on Friday, restoring full crew capacity at the ISS. • NASA's ISS operations have been limited to three astronauts since mid-January. • The ISS costs around $3 billion a year to operate and maintain. • The Crew-11 mission returned early due to a medical issue on January 15.