This week the SpaceX Crew-12 mission will launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida. This launch is very special for Cranfield University as it has three alumni involved.
On board the Falcon 9 rocket will be NASA astronaut Commander Jack Hathaway and mission specialist from the European Space Agency, Sophie Adenot. Frank Gallagher will be at the European Space Agency (ESA) as Lead Columbus Flight Director.
Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE FREng, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University sent letters to each of the participants, letting them know that they have the support and admiration of the whole University community.
Professor Holford said: “This is an extraordinary achievement for all three alumni involved in this mission, and one that fills the Cranfield University community with pride.
“Seeing Cranfield alumni involved across this mission is a powerful reminder of the impact our community continues to make at the forefront of space exploration. Jack, Sophie and Frank all carry Cranfield with them, and I hope they know how strongly the University is behind them all the way.”
Meet the Alumni
Mission pilot, Commander Jack Hathaway, completed his MSc in Flight Dynamics at Cranfield in 2014. He began his career in the US Navy as a fighter pilot, before being selected by NASA for its Astronaut Group 23 in 2001.
He returned to Cranfield in January 2025, and took the time to speak to students at a local school , sharing his story and answering all their questions about space exploration.
French astronaut Sophie Adenot studied for a Postgraduate Certificate in Flight Dynamics at Cranfield. Her career began in the French Air Force, before joining the European Space Agency’s Astronaut Corps in 2022.
Frank Gallagher graduated from Cranfield in 2018 with an MSc in Astronautics and Space Engineering , and now works for the European Space Agency, overseeing the daily running of the Columbus module aboard the International Space Station. He will be part of the ESA’s coordinating team at the Columbus Control Centre in Munich.
Coverage of the SpaceX launch begins at 8:15am GMT on February 13, with take off currently scheduled for 10:15 GMT. NASA has a launch countdown on its website, and the launch itself will be streamed live on YouTube .
