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NASA’s Crew-13 set for liftoff on long-duration space mission

The agency plans to launch four astronauts at 11:10 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

By Alexandra Myers
Source FOX Weather

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THE TAKEAWAYS: 

  • NASA is set to launch SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station.
  • The agency plans to launch four astronauts at 11:10 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, while docking at the space station is planned for around 7 p.m.
  • The spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delany, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
  • The crew will carry out scientific experiments designed to advance research and technology for future missions to the Moon and Mars while improving life on Earth.

NASA is set to launch SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station on Thursday for a long-duration science mission.

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The agency plans to launch four astronauts at 11:10 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, while docking at the space station is planned for around 7 p.m.

NASA will launch four astronauts on to the International Space Station.  (Joel Kowsky/NASA / Getty Images)

The spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delany, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.

According to NASA, the crew’s mission is to conduct research, technology demonstrations and maintenance aboard the orbiting laboratory.

Astronaut Josh Kutryk (left) and NASA astronaut Luke Delaney (right), with assistance from training specialists, practice suiting up in spacesuits in an International Space Station airlock simulator.   (Josh Valcarcel / NASA)

"During the mission, the crew will help researchers treat heart disease and Parkinson’s disease by studying human stem-cell-derived tissues that can help improve medicine, disease modeling and pharmaceutical testing," said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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The crew will also carry out scientific experiments designed to advance research and technology for future missions to the Moon and Mars while improving life on Earth.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped with the Crew Dragon capsule is seen the day before its launch.   (Marco BELLO / AFP  / Getty Images)

"They will explore crop production, which is important for longer-duration spaceflight missions, help us better understand blood-flow abnormalities that we see in space, and test new diagnostic medical equipment for monitoring crew health," Weigel said.

The flight will mark the 13th crew mission to the International Space Station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

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NASA notes that following liftoff, the spacecraft will travel at approximately 17,500 mph. Once in orbit, the astronauts will monitor a series of maneuvers guiding the spaceship toward the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module, where it will eventually dock autonomously.

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 crew members (L-R) Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov,  NASA astronauts Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk speak to the media after arriving at Kennedy Space Center on September 26, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.   (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Once docked, the Crew-13 astronauts will enter the station and conduct a short handover period with Crew-12 before the previous crew heads back to Earth aboard Dragon.

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In addition to their other duties aboard the International Space Station, Crew-13 will assist with NASA’s SpaceX-35 commercial resupply mission this fall and NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services-25 mission, which will happen later this year.