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SpaceX launches crew to ISS

October 1, 2026

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched Crew-13 to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying an international team of four astronauts. The crew includes two NASA astronauts, one Russian cosmonaut, and one Canadian astronaut whose wife is pregnant and due to give birth two months after the mission begins. The launch, initially scheduled for mid-September, was postponed to allow for the replacement of a valve in the spacecraft's propulsion system.

Who is affected

  • Two NASA astronauts (Crew-13 members)
  • One Russian cosmonaut (Crew-13 member)
  • One Canadian astronaut (Crew-13 member)
  • The Canadian astronaut's wife (who is pregnant)
  • The Canadian astronaut's family (expecting their third child)

What action is being taken

  • The Crew-13 team is traveling to the International Space Station (7 hours and 50 minutes journey time)
  • The crew will be conducting experiments and research toward future missions to the Moon and Mars

Why it matters

  • This mission is significant because it advances scientific research that will support future deep space exploration, specifically missions to the Moon and Mars. Additionally, the Canadian astronaut will become part of the fourth couple in space travel history to have a child born while one parent was off the planet, marking a notable milestone in human spaceflight.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC

SpaceX launches crew to ISS