NASA named four astronauts from three space agencies to launch no earlier than spring 2027 for the Crew-14 long-duration science expedition to the International Space Station, joining Expedition 75 and 76 after docking.
The space agency announced the crew roster for its four-member commercial rotation. This flight marks the 14th commercial crew rotation that SpaceX will fly to the orbiting laboratory under the Low Earth Orbit Program. While NASA has not set an exact duration for the stay, missions of this scale typically run for several months as crews manage station operations and research.
Commander Kayla Barron and Pilot Chris Birch Lead the Roster
NASA astronaut Kayla Barron will command the flight, marking her second journey to the orbital outpost. She previously flew on the Crew-3 mission in 2021, spending 177 days in space during Expeditions 66 and 67 while completing two spacewalks and serving as lead robotics operator. A commander in the U.S. Navy and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Cambridge, Barron most recently supported the development of new technologies and operational concepts for NASA’s Artemis program.
Joining her as pilot is NASA astronaut Chris Birch, stepping into her first spaceflight after being selected in 2021. Birch earned a doctorate in biological engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, taught at Caltech and the University of California, Riverside, and competed as a track cyclist on the U.S. National Team and was named to the Olympic Long Team for the 2020 Tokyo Games. On the ground, she served as a capsule communicator for Artemis II and crew lead for Expedition 72.
Makoto Suwa and Arutyun Kiviryan Complete the Four-Person Team
Representing international partnership, JAXA astronaut Makoto Suwa will fly on his first space mission. Suwa holds a doctorate in geosciences from Princeton University, worked for nearly a decade at the World Bank Group, and completed basic astronaut training in 2024 after his selection by the Japanese space agency in 2023.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Arutyun Kiviryan rounds out the crew as a mission specialist, also taking his first trip to the station. A graduate of the Saint Petersburg Suvorov Military School and the Baltic State Technical University, Kiviryan trained as an engineer specializing in rocket science and machine operator before entering the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center in 2021.
Scientific Objectives and Station Timeline
Once their spacecraft docks with the orbital complex, the four astronauts will join Expedition 75 and 76.
Commercial Crew Expansion and Financial Footing
The Crew-14 assignment coincides with broader financial and operational momentum for SpaceX’s human spaceflight division. NASA recently amended its Commercial Crew Transportation contract with the company, adding a $946 million award that covers three additional missions—Crew-15, Crew-16, and Crew-17—pushing SpaceX’s total contracted flight tally to 17 worth a combined $5.92 billion.
That expanded federal pipeline runs alongside surging corporate revenues. The aerospace firm reported $7.81 billion in second-quarter revenue, a 92% increase from the prior year. While market attention remains fixed on regulatory clearances for upcoming test flights, the steady cadence of NASA crew rotations through 2030 cements the company’s role as the primary transport provider for American and international astronauts heading to the space station.