NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission was ending, with the crew scheduled to return in early October, NASA reported on October 2, 2026. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev were heading home from the International Space Station after supporting research intended to benefit life on Earth and prepare for deep-space missions.

Among the work highlighted was a study in which Adenot handled a bone scaffold made from wood, designed to mimic real bone structure and support bone cell growth, to test bone regeneration in microgravity; NASA noted that osteoporosis affects more than 200 million people globally. Meir worked with the Cold Atom Lab, where ultracold atoms can be observed for longer periods, and with an investigation into engineered cartilage tissue. Meir and Hathaway also supported crystal growth experiments for cancer-targeting pharmaceuticals and testing for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Other activities included Adenot installing the Metal 3D Printer and producing intravenous fluid on demand in microgravity, since commercial IV fluids expire after about 16 months. Cargo delivered to the station included an instrument intended to improve space-weather modeling. NASA said the article was updated on October 23, 2026, to swap one of its images.