SpaceX successfully launched four astronauts toward the International Space Station on Thursday as NASA’s Crew-13 mission began a long-duration stay in orbit.
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 11:10 a.m. EDT on October 1 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA later confirmed that the spacecraft safely reached orbit and separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage.
Four Crew Members Head to the ISS
The Crew-13 team includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, the mission commander, and Luke Delaney, the pilot.
They are joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, both serving as mission specialists.
Watkins is making her second trip to the International Space Station after spending 170 days in space during the Crew-4 mission in 2022. Delaney, Kutryk and Teteryatnikov are each making their first spaceflight.
A Fast Trip to the Space Station
NASA said the Dragon spacecraft is expected to take approximately 7 hours and 50 minutes to reach the International Space Station.
Docking is scheduled for around 7 p.m. EDT, making it the fastest launch-to-docking journey by a U.S. spacecraft in the history of the International Space Station if completed as planned.
At the time of liftoff, the space station was traveling at about 17,500 miles per hour approximately 263 miles above Earth.
Research in Orbit
Once aboard the station, Crew-13 will join the international team already living and working in orbit.
During their mission, the astronauts will support scientific research, technology demonstrations and experiments designed both to improve life on Earth and help prepare for future missions beyond low-Earth orbit.
Crew-13 is the 13th operational crew rotation mission using SpaceX’s human space transportation system under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and the 14th Dragon flight carrying NASA astronauts to the station when the Demo-2 test flight is included.
The crew is expected to remain aboard the International Space Station for several months before returning to Earth in 2027.
Sources: NASA; NASA Commercial Crew Program; SpaceX
By NJ RADAR Team