Europe plans EPIC SpaceX mission to send 4 astronauts to the ISS before its retirement

The EPIC mission would give European astronauts expanded access to space in the final years of the ISS.

The move would create new opportunities for Europe's astronauts before the International Space Station (ISS) is retired. As European Spaceflight reported, ESA unveiled its latest group of five career astronauts in November 2022, but has only secured long-duration flights to the ISS for two of the five, including Sophie Adenot, who is currently aboard the space station as part of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission.

European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher announced the plan to charter a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft on March 19, following a decision at an ESA Council meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland. The ESA Provided Institutional Crew (EPIC) project is planned to launch in early 2028 with the aim of providing more opportunities for the agency's astronauts to get to space before the International Space Station is retired, SpaceNews reported.