NASA Prepares for Crewed Mission to ISS as SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Cleared to Fly Again

NASA is gearing up for its next crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with the Crew-12 launch scheduled for February 11. The mission, which will be carried out on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marks the first flight to the ISS since a medical evacuation of the previous crew. The confirmation of the launch comes after a brief grounding of the Falcon 9 rocket due to an upper stage issue. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since cleared the rocket to fly again, paving the way for the Crew-12 mission. "The Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight," an FAA spokesman told AFP. The Crew-12 mission will see four astronauts blast off to re-staff the ISS, which has been operating with a reduced crew since the medical evacuation. The launch is targeted for no earlier than 6:01 am local time (1101 GMT) on February 11. While NASA prepares for the Crew-12 mission, astronomers are exploring new methods for searching for advanced alien life. According to a new paper published in the International Journal of Astrobiology, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) should focus on exoplanets with large coal deposits. The authors argue that coal was crucial to the development of advanced technology on Earth, and that the same may be true for advanced alien civilizations. The idea is that coal deposits would provide a source of energy for advanced civilizations to develop the technology necessary to communicate over interstellar distances. "We needed large amounts of shallow, energy-dense coal to enable the technology necessary to first forge steel," the authors write. "Steel drill bits were crucial for extracting deep-seated reserves of fossil fuel, which provided the technology necessary to develop the kind of 20th-century technology required to build radio telescopes capable of communicating over interstellar distances." Meanwhile, a stunning photo of the Grand Canyon taken from space highlights the beauty of our planet. The photo, captured by an astronaut on board the ISS, shows the canyon rimmed with snow, with shadows creating a striking visual illusion. The photo was taken on January 26, 2026, after a winter storm had passed through the area. Snow flurries were still flying in the region, and hazardous conditions prompted officials to close Desert View Drive and issue warnings about icy trails. In other space-related news, a new report from the Salata Institute at Harvard highlights the environmental impact of dead satellites. The report notes that the reentry of satellites into the Earth's atmosphere can have significant effects on the environment, and that more needs to be done to address the issue. As space agencies and private companies continue to launch more satellites and spacecraft into orbit, the problem of dead satellites is becoming increasingly important. According to the report, the reentry of satellites can release toxic chemicals and particles into the atmosphere, posing a risk to both human health and the environment. Overall, the latest developments in space exploration and research highlight the complexity and beauty of the universe. From the stunning natural wonders of our planet to the search for advanced alien life, there is still much to be discovered and explored in the vast expanse of space. Sources: * NASA confirms first flight to ISS since medical evacuation (Science X) * A Grand, Snow-Rimmed Canyon (NASA) * Looking For Advanced Aliens? Search For Exoplanets With Large Coal Deposits (Science X) * SpaceX's next astronaut launch for NASA is officially on for Feb. 11 as FAA clears Falcon 9 rocket to fly again (Space.com) * The dirty afterlife of a dead satellite (Science X)