NASA currently keeps the SpaceX Crew-13 mission targeted for launch no earlier than October 1, 2026, at 11:10 a.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. That corresponds to 12:10 p.m. in Brasília time. The wording “no earlier than” matters: this is the current target opportunity, not a launch that has already happened or a schedule that cannot change.
Who are the four Crew-13 members
Crew-13 brings together four professionals from three space agencies. Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney are NASA astronauts; Joshua Kutryk represents the Canadian Space Agency, CSA; and Sergey Teteryatnikov is a Roscosmos cosmonaut.
| Crew member | Agency | Crew-13 role |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Watkins | NASA | Commander |
| Luke Delaney | NASA | Pilot |
| Joshua Kutryk | CSA | Mission specialist |
| Sergey Teteryatnikov | Roscosmos | Mission specialist |
NASA announced these assignments in April 2026, and they remained unchanged in the mission preparation updates released in September.
What is the mission objective
Crew-13 will carry the four crew members to the International Space Station for a long-duration science expedition. After arriving at the orbital laboratory, they are scheduled to become members of Expedition 75.
The mission is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which contracts U.S. companies to transport astronauts between the United States and the space station. According to the official mission page, Crew-13 is the 13th crew rotation mission of SpaceX's human space transportation system and the 14th Dragon flight with astronauts under the program, including the Demo-2 test flight.
When is Crew-13 expected to launch
On September 25, after the Flight Readiness Review, NASA, SpaceX, and international partners proceeded with preparations and kept the launch opportunity at no earlier than Thursday, October 1, at 11:10 a.m. EDT. The flight is scheduled to use a Falcon 9 rocket and a Dragon spacecraft.
If launch occurs on that opportunity, NASA plans docking with the ISS for about 8 p.m. EDT the same day, roughly nine hours after liftoff. That corresponds to about 9 p.m. in Brasília time. The agency's plan calls for docking at the forward-facing port of the Harmony module.
Why October 1 should still be treated as a target date
Crewed spaceflight dates can change because of technical, weather, safety, or station-availability considerations. Crew-13's recent timeline itself illustrates the difference between planning and execution.
- April 23: NASA announced the crew assignments and said launch would be no earlier than mid-September.
- August 29: NASA and SpaceX announced a schedule adjustment after an oxidizer leak was detected in Dragon's propulsion system during standard prelaunch processing. At that point, a new target date would be announced after testing and data review.
- September 22: teams began working toward October 1 at 11:10 a.m. EDT as the earliest launch opportunity.
- September 25: the Flight Readiness Review ended with a decision to continue preparations while keeping the same target opportunity.
The most precise way to read the schedule, therefore, is that October 1 is NASA's officially targeted date as of September 26, 2026, but it remains subject to operational change until launch actually takes place.
Crew-13 quick facts
| Mission | NASA SpaceX Crew-13 |
|---|---|
| Destination | International Space Station |
| Crew | Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov |
| Launch vehicle | SpaceX Falcon 9 |
| Spacecraft | SpaceX Dragon |
| Launch site | Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida |
| Target opportunity | No earlier than October 1, 2026, at 11:10 a.m. EDT, equivalent to 12:10 p.m. in Brasília time |
| After arrival | Joining Expedition 75 |
| Return | Listed by NASA for 2027, with no specific landing date on the mission page consulted |
To follow the mission accurately, the key is to separate what is confirmed from what still depends on the schedule: the four crew members, their roles, the destination, and the mission profile are defined; the October 1 time is the currently announced launch opportunity, not a guarantee of liftoff at that moment.
