Crew-13 astronauts reach Kennedy Space Center ahead of October launch
Four members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission arrived at the Kennedy Space Center on Sept. 26, 2026, ahead of a launch planned for no earlier than Oct. 1. The crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The mission was delayed from Sept. 12 after an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft's propulsion system required a valve replacement.
Crew-13’s four astronauts reached Kennedy Space Center after flying T-38s from Johnson Space Center. Jessica Watkins commands; Luke Delaney serves as pilot. Joshua Kutryk and Sergey Teteryatnikov complete the crew. Only Watkins has flown before; the other three are preparing for their first spaceflight.
Their Dragon, named Grace, was set to launch Sept. 12 but a propulsion oxidizer leak forced a delay. SpaceX later changed an oxidizer valve. A Flight Readiness Review was held Friday, with a Falcon 9 engine test and crew rehearsal still ahead before the planned Oct. 1 liftoff.
The mission may draw public attention to commercial crewed spaceflight and international cooperation aboard the space station. Its success could reassure partners and investors about Dragon’s reliability after the valve issue, while delays may affect research schedules and crew rotation timelines. Space enthusiasts, scientists, and aerospace workers could feel the greatest near-term effects, though broader societal benefits from orbital research often emerge slowly and indirectly.