NASA and SpaceX Target Oct. 1 Launch for Crew-13 Mission to the ISS

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Preparations

Preparations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station are moving forward after mission managers cleared the hardware for flight. During a prelaunch briefing, Lori Glaze, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, stated that preparations were on schedule. Right now, everything is 'go,' Lori Glaze, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate, said during a prelaunch press briefing this evening. Lori Glaze, associate administrator for NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron

Despite the hardware green light, meteorologists with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s 45th Weather Squadron are tracking potential meteorological hurdles. Forecasters estimate a 45% chance of a weather violation, leaving a 55% window of favorable conditions for the morning liftoff. If weather forces a scrub, a backup opportunity is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2, at 10:47 a.m. EDT. Propulsion Fixes and the Expedition 75 Roster

NASA Names Four Astronauts for SpaceX Crew-14 Mission to ISS

Dragon Spacecraft Propulsion System

The flight was originally slated for early September but was postponed after an oxidizer leak was detected on the Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system during prelaunch checkouts. Technicians addressed the issue by replacing the faulty component. In a mid-September update, space agency officials confirmed that the team successfully replaced an oxidizer valve in Dragon’s propulsion system after a leak was detected earlier in processing. Once aloft, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Grace will transport a four-person international crew into low Earth orbit. Spacecraft commander Jessica Watkins leads the mission, making history as the first NASA astronaut to launch aboard a Crew Dragon for a second time. She is joined by pilot Luke Delaney and mission specialists Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Upon arrival, the crew will integrate into the Expedition 75 team and relieve the departing Crew-12 astronauts. The SpaceX Crew-13 mission will launch NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney and crewmates Joshua Kutryk (of Canada) and cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov to the ISS for a six-month stay. They will join three other crewmates as part of the Expedition 75 crew. Biomedical Experiments and Orbital Docking Timeline

NASA Targets 2028 for Boeing Starliner Crewed Flight After Overhauls

ISS National Lab-Sponsored Projects

The incoming team faces a packed operational schedule during their six-month stay on the orbital laboratory. Their research portfolio includes investigations into biomanufacturing, regenerative medicine, and fundamental science sponsored by the ISS National Lab. Low-gravity trials will examine human stem cell-derived tissues and food crop production for future deep-space exploration. During their six-month expedition, NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov will support hundreds of scientific investigations, including numerous ISS National Lab-sponsored projects that seek to benefit life on Earth and enable a strong low Earth orbit (LEO) economy. Dana Weigel, NASA’s Low Earth Orbit program manager

SpaceX Hits 600th Flight-Proven Rocket Launch With Back-to-Back Starlink Missions

If the mission lifts off on schedule, the spacecraft will execute a rapid transit to the orbital complex. EDT.