This article is based on an official press release and mission data from NASA.

NASA and SpaceX Target Friday Morning for Crew-12 Launch to ISS

NASA and SpaceX teams are finalizing preparations for the launch of the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). According to an official update from NASA, the four-person crew is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The mission will utilize a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft named “Freedom.” As ground teams monitor weather conditions and technical systems, the astronauts are adhering to a strict pre-launch timeline to ensure readiness for their eight-month expedition.

Final Preparations and Launch Timeline

According to NASA, teams are conducting “final preparations” throughout Thursday, culminating in a critical weather briefing late in the evening. The agency reports that the crew is following a “precise checklist” of activities leading up to liftoff.

Mission data indicates that the Launch timeline follows a strict “L-Minus” schedule. Key milestones for the Friday morning launch include:

• L-4h 15m (01:00 AM EST): A final crew weather briefing to confirm conditions are safe for ascent.
• L-4h 00m: Astronauts will suit up in their custom SpaceX pressure suits and perform leak checks.
• L-3h 10m: The crew will exit the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for the traditional “walkout” to the transport vehicles.
• L-35m: Fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket with RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen begins following a “Go/No-Go” poll.

Weather forecasts for the Friday morning window appear promising. Data indicates a 90% chance of favorable conditions at the launch site, with the primary watch item being cumulus clouds. This follows a previous delay caused by high winds along the ascent corridor.

The Crew-12 Team

The Crew-12 mission features a diverse international roster comprising two NASA astronauts, one European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and one Roscosmos cosmonaut. They will join Expedition 74 aboard the ISS, restoring the station to a full seven-person crew.

Commander Jessica Meir (NASA)

A veteran of Expedition 61/62, Meir is famous for participating in the first all-female spacewalk. This marks her second spaceflight. Regarding the upcoming launch, Meir noted the atmosphere is becoming “very, very real” and expressed readiness to “pass the relay” to the next generation of explorers.

Pilot Jack Hathaway (NASA)

Making his first spaceflight, Hathaway is a former U.S. Navy Commander with more than 2,500 flight hours across 30 aircraft types. He emphasized the importance of his background, stating:

“We’re all a product of where we come from.”

, Jack Hathaway, NASA Pilot

Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot (ESA)

Adenot, a Helicopters test pilot from France, is the first from her 2022 ESA astronaut class to fly. Her mission, dubbed “Epsilon,” represents a significant milestone for European spaceflight. She described the ISS as “a very good symbol of what humanity can achieve when nations work together.”

Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos)

Fedyaev is embarking on his second spaceflight, having previously flown on the Crew-6 mission.

Mission Objectives and Science

During their extended eight-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, the crew is slated to conduct over 200 science experiments. According to mission overviews, key research areas include:

• Venous Flow: Studying blood flow from the brain to the heart in microgravity to better understand clot risks.
• Manual Piloting: Testing pilot performance after long-duration spaceflight to aid planning for future Mars missions.
• Plant Health: Investigating how plants defend themselves against bacteria in the space environment.

AirPro News Analysis

The arrival of Crew-12 is operationally critical for the International Space Station. Following the early return of Crew-11, the station has been operating with a reduced staff. The restoration of a full seven-person crew will allow the station to return to maximum capacity for both maintenance and scientific output.

Furthermore, the inclusion of Sophie Adenot highlights the deepening integration of international partners in the Commercial Crew Program. As the “Epsilon” mission begins, it underscores the routine nature of these flights while reminding observers that the complexity of spaceflight requires, as NASA notes, a “precise checklist” and constant vigilance regarding weather and technical margins.

Sources:

• NASA Commercial Crew Blog

This article is based on an official press release from Sodern.

Sodern, a prominent French manufacturer of space equipment and a subsidiary of ArianeGroup, has officially inaugurated its first United States industrial subsidiary, Sodern America. Located in Englewood, Colorado, the new facility marks a significant strategic expansion for the European aerospace giant, representing ArianeGroup’s first industrial installation on American soil.

According to the company’s announcement, the opening of Sodern America is designed to bring the manufacturer closer to its U.S. client base and navigate domestic regulatory requirements. The move positions Sodern to compete directly with established American firms in the defense and commercial space sectors by establishing a local supply chain and production capability.

Facility Capabilities and Strategic Location

The new subsidiary is situated in the Denver metropolitan area, a region widely recognized as a major hub for the U.S. aerospace industry. The facility spans approximately 14,000 square feet (1,300 square meters) and is equipped to handle manufacturing, testing, and commercial support.

In its official statement, Sodern outlined the specific operational capabilities of the Englewood site:

• Manufacturing: The facility includes a dedicated production line for the Auriga™ star tracker, a key component used for satellite orientation.
• Testing: The site features advanced clean rooms and testing infrastructure designed for high-performance trackers, including the Hydra™ model.
• Support: A local team and showroom will provide technical support and sales services to U.S. customers, aiming to reduce lead times and logistics costs.

By establishing this physical presence, Sodern aims to address the “dynamic and demanding” nature of the U.S. market, ensuring that critical components are available with shorter supply-chains than those requiring import from Europe.

Leadership and Market Objectives

To lead the new subsidiary, Sodern has appointed Tiphaine Louradour as the CEO of Sodern America. Louradour brings over 25 years of experience in the space industry, having held significant leadership roles at major U.S. aerospace organizations.

According to biographical details released in conjunction with the announcement, Louradour’s background includes serving as CEO of Spaceflight Inc., President of International Launch Services (ILS), and President of Global Commercial Sales at United Launch Alliance (ULA). Her appointment signals Sodern’s intent to leverage deep ties within the U.S. space industrial base to secure new contracts.

Navigating “Buy American” Regulations

A primary driver for this expansion, as noted in the company’s strategic rationale, is compliance with U.S. regulatory frameworks. Foreign entities often face barriers when bidding for U.S. government defense and civil space contracts due to strict domestic content requirements, often referred to as “Buy American” mandates.

By manufacturing the Auriga™ star tracker and conducting testing in Colorado, Sodern America intends to qualify for sensitive programs that are typically restricted to U.S. entities. This local status allows the company to bypass previous regulatory hurdles and compete on equal footing with domestic manufacturers.

AirPro News Analysis: The Competitive Landscape

The entry of Sodern America into the Colorado aerospace cluster places it in direct proximity to some of its fiercest competitors. The Denver area is home to Blue Canyon Technologies (a subsidiary of RTX), which is a market leader in small satellite components and star trackers. Additionally, Ball Aerospace (now part of BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems) and Honeywell Aerospace maintain significant operations in the region.

Sodern is already a supplier for major U.S. stakeholders, including NASA, providing instruments for the InSight Mars mission and the Europa Clipper, and the OneWeb constellation. However, establishing a manufacturing foothold suggests a shift from being an exporter to becoming an embedded part of the U.S. supply chain. This move is likely to intensify competition in the optical sensors market, particularly as satellite constellations continue to scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sodern America?
Sodern America is the new U.S. subsidiary of the French space equipment manufacturer Sodern. It is the company’s first industrial facility in the United States.

Where is the new facility located?
The facility is located in Englewood, Colorado, within the Denver metropolitan area.

What will be manufactured at the new site?
The site will feature a production line for Auriga™ star trackers and testing facilities for Hydra™ star trackers.

Who is the CEO of Sodern America?
Tiphaine Louradour, a veteran aerospace executive with previous leadership roles at Spaceflight Inc. and ULA, has been appointed as CEO.

Why did Sodern open a U.S. factory?
The expansion aims to bypass “Buy American” regulatory hurdles, shorten supply chains for U.S. clients, and allow the company to bid on U.S. government defense contracts.

Sources

• Sodern Official Press Release
• ArianeGroup
• Denver Gazette

This article is based on an official press release from Isar Aerospace.

Isar Aerospace has officially inaugurated a new acceptance test facility at the Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden. Announced on February 4, 2026, the opening marks a significant transition for the Munich-based launch provider as it shifts focus from prototype development to the industrial-scale production of its Spectrum launch vehicle.

The new site is purpose-built to verify the flight readiness of manufactured hardware, a critical step in ensuring high-cadence Launch operations. According to the company, the facility is designed to test over 30 Aquila engines per month, alongside fully integrated rocket stages. This infrastructure expansion comes just weeks before Isar Aerospace attempts its second Test-Flights, mission “Onward and Upward,” scheduled to First-Flight from Andøya Spaceport in Norway in March 2026.

Industrializing Launch Capabilities

Unlike development testing, which focuses on validating design concepts, acceptance testing is the final quality control step before hardware is shipped to the launch pad. Isar Aerospace stated in their press release that the new facility is specifically engineered to remove production bottlenecks. By securing dedicated infrastructure for acceptance testing, the company aims to ensure that every engine and stage coming off the assembly line is immediately qualified for flight.

The facility operates alongside Isar’s existing vertical test stand (VTS-2) at Esrange, which has been utilized for development testing since 2019. The addition of the new site allows for parallel operations: R&D can continue on the vertical stand while the new facility handles the volume required for serial production.

“Scaling reliable access to space requires not only advanced launch vehicle design but also the right infrastructure to support rapid development and production. With our second test facility at Esrange, we are unlocking new capabilities and accelerating our progress.”

, Daniel Metzler, CEO & Co-Founder, Isar Aerospace

Capacity and Specs

The new infrastructure significantly increases the company’s throughput. Isar Aerospace reports that the site is equipped to handle the acceptance testing of more than 30 Aquila engines monthly. Furthermore, the site supports integrated stage testing, allowing engineers to verify the entire rocket stage as a cohesive unit before it leaves Sweden.

Strategic Context: The Race for European Sovereignty

The opening of this facility highlights the intensifying race among European launch Startups to provide sovereign access to space. Isar Aerospace is competing with peers such as Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and Orbex to fill the gap in Europe’s launch market. By vertically integrating its testing capabilities, Isar Aerospace reduces reliance on shared facilities, potentially giving it an advantage in scheduling and launch cadence.

Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), which operates Esrange, emphasized the importance of this Partnerships for the broader European ecosystem.

“This new facility strengthens Europe’s path toward scalable and reliable access to space… Together, we are building the infrastructure that will enable a new generation of launch services.”

, Mats Tyni, Director of Business Development, SSC

AirPro News Analysis

The distinction between “development” and “acceptance” testing is often overlooked, yet it is the primary hurdle for launch companies moving from a single successful flight to a commercial service. In our view, Isar Aerospace’s Investments in a high-volume acceptance facility signals confidence in their hardware design. It suggests the company believes the Aquila engine design is mature enough to freeze for mass production. If the upcoming March 2026 flight is successful, this infrastructure will be the key enabler that allows them to fulfill their backlog without the testing bottlenecks that have historically plagued the industry.

Upcoming Mission: “Onward and Upward”

The facility inauguration serves as a prelude to Isar Aerospace’s next major milestone. The company confirmed that its second test flight, dubbed “Onward and Upward,” is targeted for a launch window in March 2026. This mission will utilize the Spectrum vehicle, a two-stage rocket designed to carry up to 1,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The Spectrum vehicle relies on the Aquila engines tested at Esrange, which utilize Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Propane. Following a flight termination during the first test launch in March 2025, the company has conducted extensive hot-fire tests to validate system corrections. The new acceptance facility will likely play a central role in qualifying engines for vehicles 3 through 7, which are currently planned for concurrent production.

Sources

• Isar Aerospace Press Release
• Swedish Space Corporation (SSC)