Key facts
- SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying two US astronauts, a Canadian astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut.
- The crew is headed to the International Space Station for a science mission focused on human health and performance.
- Docking with the ISS is planned for approximately 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).
- This is the 13th long-duration space station team NASA has flown aboard a SpaceX vehicle.
- Crew 13 is led by Jessica Watkins and includes Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying a four-member crew to the International Space Station (ISS) for a science mission. The crew includes two US astronauts, one Canadian astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut.
The mission, designated Crew 13, is the 13th long-duration space station team that NASA has entrusted to a SpaceX launch vehicle since May 2020. The Crew Dragon capsule is expected to dock with the orbiting laboratory, located approximately 250 miles (420 km) above Earth, around 7 p.m. EDT (2300 GMT).
Leading the crew is geologist-turned-astronaut Jessica Watkins, embarking on her second space voyage. She is joined by fellow NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, a former test pilot making his spaceflight debut. Mission specialists include Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, also a former test and fighter pilot, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, an engineer with submarine operational experience.
Upon arrival, the new crew will join the seven occupants currently aboard the ISS. The outgoing Crew-12 members are nearing the end of their seven-month mission and are scheduled to return to Earth soon. The new arrivals will focus on biomedical and human performance studies, including research on microgravity's effects on blood circulation and clotting, and gathering health data for future space endeavors.
The ISS, a collaborative project involving the US, Russia, Canada, Japan, and 11 European countries, has been continuously operated for over a quarter-century, with NASA committed to its operation through 2030.