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NASA-SpaceX Crew-13 Targets October 1, 2026 Launch to ISS with Four Astronauts
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Moneycontrol•23-09-2026, 10:30
NASA-SpaceX Crew-13 Targets October 1, 2026 Launch to ISS with Four Astronauts
- •NASA and SpaceX are targeting October 1, 2026, for the Crew-13 mission launch to the International Space Station (ISS) from Florida.
- •The mission will send four astronauts aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft mounted on a Falcon 9 rocket, with docking expected less than nine hours after liftoff.
- •Crew-13 comprises NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins (Commander) and Luke Delaney (Pilot), Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
- •Jessica Watkins will make history as the first NASA astronaut to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft twice, having previously flown on Crew-4 in 2022.
- •The long-duration science mission will involve conducting scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aboard the ISS, supporting future human exploration and Earth applications.
Key Questions Answered
NASA and SpaceX are targeting October 1, 2026, for the launch of Crew-13, with the earliest opportunity at 11:10 a.m. EDT from Florida. The mission was previously delayed due to an oxidizer leak detected in August.
The Crew-13 mission comprises NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins as commander and Luke Delaney as pilot. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov will serve as mission specialists.
Jessica Watkins will become the first NASA astronaut to launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft twice. She previously spent 170 days in orbit on the SpaceX Crew-4 mission in 2022.
