SpaceX Crew-13
Thirteenth operational Commercial Crew flight to the ISS.
SpaceX Crew-13 marks the thirteenth operational flight for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and the 20th time a Crew Dragon has carried people to orbit. Its four passengers—NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov—are headed to the International Space Station.
The crew assignments were made public on April 23, 2026. Watkins, a geologist, previously flew on SpaceX Crew-4. Delaney, a former naval aviator, and Kutryk, a fighter pilot, are both making their first spaceflight, as is Teteryatnikov, who comes from a submarine background. Kutryk is also the first Canadian to reach orbit through the Commercial Crew Program.
The mission was originally set to launch on September 12, 2026, but was delayed after a leak was found in the oxidizer tank of the booster. Delaney remarked that the crew was aware of the number’s significance and that they were drawing on the heritage of Apollo 13.
Quick Facts
- Names List
- USCV-13
- Mission Type
- ISS crew transport
- Operator
- SpaceX
- Mission Duration
- 180 days (planned)
- Spacecraft Type
- SpaceX Crew Dragon
- Crew Size
- 4
- Crew Members
- Jessica Watkins · Luke Delaney · Joshua Kutryk · Sergey Teteryatnikov
- Crew Expedition
- Expedition 75/76
- Launch Date
- NET · No earlier than September 2026
- Launch Rocket
- Falcon 9 Block 5 (B1101.3)
- Launch Site
- Cape Canaveral, SLC40
- Landing Date
- NET March 2027 (planned)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
NASA announced the crew assignments for Crew-13 on April 23, 2026, consisting of NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, a geologist, and Luke Delaney, a former naval aviator, alongside CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk, a fighter pilot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, a submariner. Besides Watkins, who flew on SpaceX Crew-4, this will be the first mission to space for the remaining astronauts. Kutryk is the first Canadian to be sent to orbit as part of the Commercial Crew Program.
The 13th operational SpaceX mission under NASA's Commercial Crew Program was scheduled to launch on September 12, 2026, but a leak in the oxidizer tank has delayed the launch. After the leak was discovered, Delaney noted that 'The numeral significance was not lost on us' and that they are 'leveraging th[e] heritage' of Apollo 13.
Reader's Guide
SpaceX Crew-13 represents a milestone in NASA's Commercial Crew Program as the thirteenth operational mission, continuing the rotation of astronauts to the International Space Station. The crew includes a mix of experienced and first-time spacefarers, with Jessica Watkins returning for her second flight after SpaceX Crew-4. Joshua Kutryk's inclusion marks the first Canadian astronaut launched under the Commercial Crew Program, highlighting international collaboration. The mission's launch delay due to an oxidizer tank leak in Grace, and the crew's acknowledgment of the Apollo 13 parallel, underscores the technical challenges inherent in human spaceflight. This mission contributes to the ongoing partnership between NASA, SpaceX, and international space agencies, maintaining a continuous human presence on the ISS.
Did You Know?
- Besides Jessica Watkins, all other crew members are on their first space mission.
- The launch was delayed due to a leak in the oxidizer tank.
- Luke Delaney noted the numeral significance of the mission, referencing Apollo 13.
More in SpaceX human spaceflights 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced