SpaceX Crew-13 Launches to the ISS

On October 1, 2026, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Dragon crew spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, heading towards the International Space Station (ISS) with a four-person team from three different countries.

The crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk from the Canadian Space Agency, and Sergey Teteryatnikov, a cosmonaut from the Russian Federal Space Agency. This launch represents another milestone for NASA.

“Congratulations [NASA] and [SpaceX] teams on another gorgeous launch. Godspeed Crew-13!” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman shared on X shortly after the launch.

Following liftoff, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket detached and successfully landed at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 40 in Florida, while the crew continued their journey aboard the spacecraft.

This launch marked the 13th human spaceflight mission for the Dragon to the ISS, according to SpaceX.

While on board the ISS, the crew will engage in a variety of research projects aimed at paving the way for future explorations beyond low-Earth orbit.

“During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct new research to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit humanity on Earth,” SpaceX noted.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center announced via X that the Dragon spacecraft had reached orbit safely, and it is projected to dock with the ISS at approximately 7:00 p.m. EDT.

The International Space Station tweeted, “Crew-13 members are in space on their way to the station for a docking at about 7 p.m. EDT today. Managers will talk about the mission and its launch at 1:10 p.m.”

Other Falcon Rocket Launches Scheduled

In addition to the Crew-13 mission, two more SpaceX launches are set to take place on the same day.

• Transporter-18, a small satellite rideshare mission, will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California using a Falcon 9 rocket.
• NROL-97 is scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with a Falcon Heavy rocket.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, remarked on X, “Three Falcons ready to fly simultaneously,” referring to the three rockets prepared for launch.