A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched on Thursday, embarking on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with a diverse crew that includes two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut, and a Canadian astronaut. Notably, Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk’s wife is expecting their third child while he is in space, marking a significant moment for their family.
The crew, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, consisted of Commander Jessica Watkins, Pilot Luke Delaney, Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, and Joshua Kutryk. They lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s pad 40 at precisely 11:10 a.m. EDT.
This launch had initially been scheduled for mid-September but was postponed to address a valve issue in the Crew Dragon’s propulsion system.
Watkins, who earned her Ph.D. in geology, previously flew to space in a Crew Dragon in 2022. The other crew members are making their initial journeys to the ISS, with Delaney and Kutryk both having backgrounds as military test pilots. Teteryatnikov has experience as a member of the Russian submarine force before transitioning to a cosmonaut role.
Kutryk and his wife Heather are parents to two children, aged 5 and 7, and they are anticipating the arrival of their third child around Thanksgiving, shortly into the Crew 13 mission. This will make them the fourth couple in history to welcome a child while one parent is in space.
In a pre-launch message shared on X, Kutryk expressed the emotional challenge of leaving his family behind, stating, “Leaving these three (plus one on the way) is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But that has always been the nature of exploration.” He quoted explorer Fridtjof Nansen, reflecting on the bittersweet nature of departure.
Despite recent tensions between the U.S. and Canada, the Canadian Space Agency remains an integral part of the U.S. space program. The agency has contributed significantly to the ISS, including the robotic arms used in its construction. CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen is set to fly around the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission, and Kutryk joins the ranks as the 17th Canadian astronaut to venture into space.
Kutryk emphasized the ISS as a symbol of human achievement, stating, “When I think about the space station, I hope the legacy is that people see this beacon in the sky… It’s a testament to what we’ve done and what we can achieve together.”
After propelling the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon beyond the dense lower atmosphere, the first stage of the Falcon 9 successfully returned to land at the Space Force station while the upper stage continued its ascent. A short time later, the second stage engine stopped, allowing the crew capsule to detach and proceed independently.
Delaney remarked on the experience of the launch, saying, “What an epic ride! Today, we proudly continue the legacy of humans living and working in orbit. Huge thanks to the phenomenal teams at NASA, SpaceX, and all our partners.” He expressed deep appreciation for the support from his family and friends.
The Crew 13 launch was precisely timed to align with the ISS’s orbit, a requirement for rendezvous missions due to the high speed at which rockets travel. Although a Falcon 9 cannot alter its orbital plane, the Crew Dragon capsule can modify its altitude as necessary to approach the ISS.
The Crew 13 capsule is expected to reach the ISS in approximately eight hours, with automated docking scheduled at the Harmony module’s forward port by 7 p.m.
Watkins shared her anticipation for the mission, noting, “We expect a very busy mission with lots of station maintenance, EVAs, and science activities.” They will be welcomed aboard by the current Crew 12, which includes Commander Jessica Meir, Pilot Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, who are concluding a 237-day mission that began on February 11.
Additionally, on board are Soyuz MS-29/75S cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov, Anna Kikina, and NASA astronaut Anil Menon, who are in the midst of an eight-month mission that will conclude in early April 2027.
Following a brief “crew handover” period, where the outgoing Crew 12 will brief their replacements on station operations, they will board their Crew Dragon capsule for their return journey to Earth. Undocking is planned for October 5, with a splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean off the southern California coast shortly after noon EDT on October 6.
Meir, a veteran astronaut with seven spacewalks, expressed her eagerness to reunite with her family, particularly her young daughter. “I’m so looking forward to seeing nature again,” she said, reflecting on the emotional aspects of her return.
