CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch four crew members toward the International Space Station today in a mission that could set a new U.S. spaceflight record.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission is scheduled to lift off at 11:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 1, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
NASA and SpaceX completed their Launch Readiness Review and cleared the mission to proceed toward launch.
Four Crew Members Headed to Space
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft Grace, launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, will carry:
🚀 NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins — Commander
🚀 NASA astronaut Luke Delaney — Pilot
🚀 Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk — Mission Specialist
🚀 Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov — Mission Specialist
Watkins will be making her second trip to the International Space Station, while Delaney, Kutryk and Teteryatnikov are scheduled to make their first spaceflights.
Crew-13 Could Set a U.S. Record
If everything goes according to schedule, Dragon is expected to dock with the International Space Station at approximately 7 p.m. EDT.
That would mean a journey of only about 7 hours and 50 minutes from launch to docking.
According to NASA, if completed on schedule, it would be the fastest trip to the International Space Station by a U.S. spacecraft in station history.
Weather Could Complicate the Launch 🌧️
One major question remains: Florida weather.
The U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron is forecasting only a 55% chance of favorable launch weather.
Scattered showers and clouds could interfere with the launch window, meaning conditions will be closely monitored throughout the countdown.
What Will Crew-13 Do in Space?
Crew-13 is beginning a long-duration science mission aboard the International Space Station.
The crew is expected to participate in research involving human health, including studies related to heart disease and Parkinson’s disease, as well as crop production and medical monitoring technologies.
The research is designed both to improve life on Earth and help prepare astronauts for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
How to Watch the Launch
NASA’s live launch coverage is scheduled to begin at 9:20 a.m. EDT, with liftoff targeted for 11:10 a.m. EDT.
Coverage will continue through key stages of the mission, with separate coverage scheduled as Dragon approaches the International Space Station.
If the launch and docking proceed as planned, October 1 could become another milestone in America’s commercial human spaceflight program.