Crew-13 Launches with Record Transit and a Crocheted Dragon for Zero-G

Key points

• Crew-13 launched from Cape Canaveral at 11:10 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2026, aboard the Dragon capsule 'Grace'.
• The crew docked with the ISS in 7 hours and 55 minutes, setting a new record for the shortest rendezvous by a Dragon spacecraft.
• Jessica Watkins introduced 'Lucky,' a golden crocheted dragon wearing a four-leaf clover, as the mission's zero-gravity indicator.
• The crew included Jessica Watkins (commander), Luke Delaney (pilot), Joshua Kutryk (mission specialist), and Sergey Teteryatnikov (mission specialist).
• The mission patch and 'Lucky' pay homage to Apollo 13, referencing its golden horses and resilience, while incorporating SpaceX's traditional four-leaf clover charm.

Background

The Crew-13 mission was originally scheduled for September 12, 2026, but was delayed due to an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft's propulsion system. Final pre-launch checks and static fire tests were completed in late September, leading to the October 1 launch. This mission marks the first U.S. crewed launch in six months and will replace the current Expedition 75 crew for a five-and-a-half-month stay on the ISS.

Why it matters

The record-breaking transit time demonstrates improved orbital mechanics and launch precision, while the choice of 'Lucky' as a zero-g indicator highlights the cultural and historical continuity between modern NASA missions and the Apollo era. The successful launch after a technical delay reinforces the reliability of the SpaceX-NASA partnership for crewed spaceflight.

What to watch

The Crew-13 astronauts will spend five and a half months on the ISS, conducting scientific experiments, maintenance, and extravehicular activities as part of Expedition 75. They will eventually return to Earth, likely in early 2027, after completing their long-duration mission.