SpaceX Launches 4 Astronauts on Fast Track to ISS, Jessica Watkins Leads Crew-13 Mission (Video)

SpaceX successfully launched four astronauts toward the International Space Station on Thursday, October 1, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft, beginning NASA’s Crew-13 mission. The spacecraft lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The crew is led by NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins and includes NASA pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The mission is SpaceX’s 13th crew-rotation flight to the International Space Station for NASA.

SpaceX Crew-13 Begins Journey to ISS

The Falcon 9 lifted off at about 11:10 a.m. EDT from Florida, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft named Grace. NASA had planned the mission as a roughly eight-hour trip to the space station, which would make it the fastest launch-to-docking journey by a U.S. spacecraft to the ISS.

The Crew-13 launch had been delayed for about three weeks while SpaceX addressed a leaking fuel-system issue in the Dragon spacecraft. After completing inspections and reviews, NASA and SpaceX cleared the mission for launch. Following liftoff, the reusable Falcon 9 first-stage booster was expected to separate and return for a landing while the Dragon spacecraft continued toward orbit.

SpaceX Launches 4 Astronauts on Fast Track to ISS

“Human spaceflight is truly a team sport, and it is an honor and a privilege to represent all of you who have contributed to the success of this mission.”

The Crew-13 crew members can be seen exchanging fist bumps after Commander @Astro_Watkins gives a speech prior to liftoff. pic.twitter.com/yfSDAv2zFz

— NASA (@NASA) October 1, 2026

Jessica Watkins Makes Spaceflight History

Watkins, 38, is making her second trip to the International Space Station. She previously spent 170 days aboard the orbiting laboratory in 2022 as part of NASA’s Crew-4 mission. The geologist, who previously worked with NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover team, is the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit. She is also the first NASA astronaut to fly twice aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The other three crew members are making their spaceflight debuts. Delaney, a former test pilot and aerospace engineer, is serving as pilot, while Kutryk and Teteryatnikov are mission specialists.

Crew-13 to Conduct Science Research in Orbit

Once aboard the ISS, the four astronauts will join Expedition 75 and spend about six months conducting scientific research, technology demonstrations and station maintenance. NASA said the research will include studies involving heart disease and Parkinson’s disease, crop production, blood-flow changes in microgravity and new medical equipment for monitoring astronaut health. The work is also intended to support preparations for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The new crew will initially join seven astronauts and cosmonauts already aboard the station. After a brief handover period, members of the previous Crew-12 mission are expected to return to Earth.

Crew-13 Mission Follows Recent SpaceX Milestones

The launch comes shortly after SpaceX's latest uncrewed Starship test, adding another major human-spaceflight mission to the company's recent activities. SpaceX has been transporting astronauts to orbit for NASA since May 2020. For the four Crew-13 astronauts, the mission will involve months of scientific work aboard the ISS as NASA and its international partners continue using the station as a platform for research and preparation for longer-duration human spaceflight.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2026 09:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).