SpaceX fired its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday, sending the Crew‑13 Dragon capsule on its way to the International Space Station (ISS).
The five‑member crew consists of NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Josh Cassada, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, and Canadian astronaut Jessica Meir, whose partner is due to deliver their third child two months into the mission.
The launch, initially slated for mid‑September, was postponed to replace a valve in the Dragon’s propulsion system. Engineers confirmed the replacement prior to liftoff, ensuring the safety of the crew and success of the mission.
It will take just under eight hours for the commander‑pilot crew to rendezvous with the ISS, where they will conduct experiments that support NASA’s plans for future lunar and Martian expeditions.
This flight underscores SpaceX’s growing role in sustaining human presence beyond Earth and highlights the international cooperation that keeps the space station alive.
