NASA is preparing to launch a crew of three astronauts and one cosmonaut to the International Space Station today from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch will utilize SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, marking another collaboration between NASA and private space companies. The Crew 12 team will conduct scientific experiments related to the effects of microgravity on the human body and the growth of lung tissues in space, which are of great importance for future space exploration and health.

The crew comprises NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, along with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedjajev from Roscosmos. The inclusion of international astronauts emphasizes the collaborative nature of the ISS and highlights the contributions from various space agencies around the world. The scientific research carried out by the Crew 12 team is expected to provide insights that will benefit both current space missions and future human endeavors in space.

In January, NASA had to return four astronauts to Earth early from the ISS for health reasons concerning one crew member, marking the first time such an evacuation had occurred for health issues. Although details regarding the affected astronaut were not disclosed, NASA confirmed that their condition was stable and that the situation did not escalate to an emergency evacuation. This incident underscores the importance of crew health in long-duration space missions and indicates the rigorous safety protocols upheld by NASA and its partners.