Four astronauts prepare for SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station
NASA and its international partners are preparing to launch the Crew-13 mission on October 1, 2026. The four-person crew will travel aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station to conduct scientific research and maintain the orbiting laboratory.
According to NASA, the mission is scheduled to lift off no earlier and after 11:10 a.m. EDT from Florida's Space Launch Complex 40. The crew includes commander Jessica Watkins and pilot Luke Delaney from NASA, alongside mission specialists Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency and Sergey Teteryatnikov from Roscosmos. This flight marks the 13th crew rotation using SpaceX vehicles.
The mission aims to advance technology for future Moon and Mars exploration. NASA's Dana Weigel stated the crew will study human stem-cell derived tissues to assist in researching Parkinson’s and heart disease, while also investigating crop production and blood flow abnormalities. The crew will arrive to join the Expedition 75 team and will eventually facilitate the return of the Crew-12 astronauts.
Source: What You Need to Know About NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Mission
