The SpaceX Crew-13 mission launched four astronauts to the International Space Station on a Falcon 9 rocket on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The flight carries NASA spacecraft commander Jessica Watkins, NASA pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos mission specialist Sergey Teteryatnikov. The four crew members launched to join the Expedition 75 crew on the station.
The Dragon spacecraft named Grace lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station with a planned flight time of about 7 hours 50 minutes to docking. The Crew-12 astronauts are expected to begin their return no earlier than Monday, October 5, 2026, after a brief handover. NASA lists stem-cell-derived tissues made in microgravity, a mostly autonomous plant growth system, blood-flow studies, and a new inflight diagnostic device.
Who Is Flying on Crew-13
The Crew-13 mission carries four astronauts: NASA spacecraft commander Jessica Watkins, NASA pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos mission specialist Sergey Teteryatnikov.
NASA stated that Jessica Watkins will be the first NASA astronaut to launch twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The four crew members launched to join the Expedition 75 group aboard the International Space Station. The members already aboard the station for Expedition 75 are NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Roscosmos cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina.
| Name | Agency | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Watkins | NASA | Spacecraft Commander |
| Luke Delaney | NASA | Pilot |
| Joshua Kutryk | Canadian Space Agency | Mission Specialist |
| Sergey Teteryatnikov | Roscosmos | Mission Specialist |
Flight Schedule and Docking Plan for Crew-13
The Crew-13 flight lifted off at 11:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The launch vehicle was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. NASA says the booster was on its third flight. The Dragon spacecraft flying the mission is named Grace.
Autonomous docking was planned for approximately 7 p.m. EDT the same day at the forward port of the station’s Harmony module. NASA lists a planned flight of about 7 hours 50 minutes. NASA calls this planned timeline the “fastest launch-to-docking by a U.S. spacecraft in the history of the International Space Station.” The actual docking time and hatch opening time were not confirmed in the sources reviewed at publication.
Key Facts Documented for the Crew-13 Flight
| Flight Parameter | Published Mission Detail | Official Reference Source |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date and Time | 11:10 a.m. EDT, Thursday, October 1, 2026 | NASA launch release |
| Launch Site | Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida | NASA launch release |
| Launch Vehicle | SpaceX Falcon 9 (booster on its third flight) | NASA mission overview |
| Spacecraft Name | Dragon “Grace” | NASA mission overview |
| Planned Docking Location | Forward port of the station’s Harmony module | NASA launch release |
| Planned Docking Time | Approximately 7 p.m. EDT, October 1, 2026 | NASA launch release; NASA coverage release |
| Planned Flight Duration to Docking | About 7 hours 50 minutes | NASA launch release |
| Science Items Listed by NASA | Stem cells, autonomous plant growth, blood flow, inflight diagnostics | NASA launch release; NASA mission overview |
| Station Expedition Joined | Expedition 75 (Anil Menon, Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina) | NASA launch release |
| Returning Predecessor Mission | Crew-12 (Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, Andrey Fedyaev) | NASA launch release; NASA coverage release |
Science Investigations Aboard the Station for Crew-13
NASA lists four science items:
- Stem-cell-derived tissues made in microgravity for personalized medicine, disease modeling, and drug testing for conditions such as heart disease and Parkinson’s disease.
- A new, mostly autonomous plant growth system alongside tests of plant growth outside of dedicated facilities.
- Human-health studies on blood-flow abnormalities experienced in microgravity.
- A new inflight diagnostic device to monitor astronaut health during flight operations.
NASA frames the science as advancing research for future Moon and Mars missions and improving life on Earth.
Handover and Return Timeline for Crew-12
The Crew-12 astronauts are:
- NASA astronaut Jessica Meir
- NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway
- European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev
According to NASA, Crew-12 is expected to begin its return to Earth no earlier than Monday, October 5, 2026. This departure follows a brief handover period with the newly arrived Crew-13 personnel.
Coverage Details for Crew-13 Launch and Docking
NASA scheduled live launch coverage and arrival coverage.
NASA offered streaming coverage through the NASA Live portal. NASA’s launch coverage broadcast began at 9:20 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 1, leading into the 11:10 a.m. liftoff. The agency scheduled its arrival and docking broadcast coverage to begin at 5:20 p.m. EDT ahead of the planned 7 p.m. docking event at the Harmony module.
Information Not Published in Official Sources for Crew-13
Several specific operational metrics for the mission were not published in the official announcement materials.
The announcements reviewed do not state:
- The exact mission duration in days or months, stating only that Crew-13 is a “long-duration” mission.
- The actual confirmed docking time or the exact time the hatch between Grace and Harmony opened.
- The scheduled splashdown date or recovery site location for the returning Crew-12 spacecraft.
- Booster landing details.
Readers seeking updates on these operational outcomes can review updates directly in NASA’s Crew-13 launch release.
Related Reading
For related background on launch vehicles, human spaceflight programs, and orbital infrastructure, consult the following references: