Crew-13 Successfully Launches to the ISS
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Crew-13 arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) less than eight hours after launching from Kennedy Space Center on Thursday morning. The crew lifted off at 11:10 a.m. and docked at the space station just after 7 p.m., marking the fastest launch-to-docking of a U.S. spacecraft in ISS history.
Crew Members
Crew-13 consists of:
- NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins
- NASA astronaut Luke Delaney
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk
- Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov
Mission Overview
The arrival of Crew-13 marks the end of an eight-month stay for Crew-12 on the ISS. Crew-13 is expected to remain aboard the station for approximately six months. Jessica Watkins expressed gratitude for the support from ground teams and loved ones, stating, “The journey to get here has been long, and we are so grateful.”
Public Excitement
The launch attracted many spectators in Titusville, where locals gathered to witness the event. New Yorker Brian Soto, who was seeing a launch for the first time, described the experience, saying, “I didn’t know it was going to be that color… it was kind of hard to describe.”
Research Focus
During their mission, Crew-13 will conduct research on how stem cells respond to microgravity and explore how plants grow in various conditions.
