Four astronauts are set to launch to the International Space Station aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission on Oct. 1, 2026, with a nine-hour journey to the orbiting laboratory.
Crew Composition and Mission Objectives
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission includes four astronauts: NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Watkins will serve as spacecraft commander, with Delaney as pilot. Kutryk and Teteryatnikov are mission specialists. The crew will conduct experiments to advance research for future Moon and Mars missions, including studying human stem-cell derived tissues to improve medicine and pharmaceutical testing (NASA).
During the mission, the crew will help researchers treat heart disease and Parkinson’s disease by studying human stem-cell derived tissues that can help improve medicine, disease modeling, and pharmaceutical testing,
said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program at the Johnson Space Center (NASA). The mission will also explore crop production for long-duration spaceflight and test new diagnostic medical equipment for monitoring crew health (NASA).
Launch Timeline and Journey to the ISS
The Crew-13 mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than 11:10 a.m. EDT on Oct. 1 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. If launched on that date, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is expected to reach the International Space Station less than nine hours later, with docking planned for about 8 p.m. at the forward-facing port of the Harmony module Sciencedaily.
Before launch, teams will complete final preparations and readiness reviews to confirm the astronauts, space station, Dragon spacecraft, and Falcon 9 rocket are ready for flight. The integrated spacecraft and rocket will undergo a dry dress rehearsal with the crew and a static fire test before launch (NASA).
Background on the Crew Members
Watkins, a NASA astronaut selected in 2017, will make her second spaceflight aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. She grew up in Lafayette, Colorado, and earned degrees in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University and a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She previously flew on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission in 2022 (NASA).
Delaney, selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021, holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Florida and a master’s in aerospace engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a Florida native and a distinguished naval aviator who has flown missions in the Asia-Pacific region (NASA).
Kutryk, a CSA astronaut selected in 2017, is a former CF-18 fighter pilot and test pilot. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and holds master’s degrees in space studies, flight test engineering, and defense studies (NASA).
Teteryatnikov, a Roscosmos cosmonaut, graduated from the Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2011. He has served in various naval engineering roles, including undersea vessels and specialized engine room operations (NASA).
Significance of the Mission
The Crew-13 mission marks the 13th crew rotation with SpaceX to the space station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Office. The flight is the second to the space station for Watkins and the first for Kutryk and Teteryatnikov. The crew will join the Expedition 75 crew on the ISS, continuing long-duration research and technology demonstrations (NASA).