Science
NASA and SpaceX prepare to launch international Crew-13 mission to space station
Four astronauts are scheduled to lift off Oct. 1 on a potentially record-fast flight to the ISS.
The short version
- NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than 11:10 a.m. EDT on Oct. 1 to launch the Crew-13 mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida.[NASA News]
- The multi-agency crew consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.[NASA News]
- If docking occurs around 7:00 p.m. EDT as targeted, the 7-hour-and-50-minute travel time would set a speed record for U.S. spacecraft flying to the ISS.[ScienceDaily]
- Watkins will become the first NASA astronaut to launch twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.[NASA News]
Key facts
- Crew-13 is set to launch no earlier than 11:10 a.m. EDT on Oct. 1 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.[NASA News · ScienceDaily]
- The four-person crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.[NASA News · ScienceDaily]
- The flight could reach the International Space Station in 7 hours and 50 minutes, which would mark the fastest trip by a U.S. spacecraft to the ISS.[ScienceDaily]
- Jessica Watkins will be the first NASA astronaut to launch twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.[NASA News]
- The Dragon spacecraft Grace previously supported the private Axiom Mission 4 in summer 2025.[NASA News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the spacecraft will achieve the targeted 7-hour-and-50-minute travel time to set the U.S. speed record depends on flight execution and launch conditions.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.