NASA reveals SpaceX Crew-13 astronauts expected to fly to International Space Station in September 2026 | - THE LOCAL REPORT ARTICLES

NASA SpaceX has announced crew assignments for its SpaceX Crew-13 mission, which is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station no earlier than mid-September. The mission brings together astronauts from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and Roscosmos for a long-term scientific expedition in low Earth orbit. The four-person team will join Expedition 75 upon arrival at the orbiting laboratory. NASA has also adjusted its launch schedule earlier than previously planned to increase the frequency of crew rotations under its Commercial Crew Program. The mission is a continuation of a series of SpaceX-backed flights to the space station focused on scientific research, technology testing and preparation for future human exploration of the moon and Mars. Each crew member has specialized training and operational experience from aerospace, engineering and space science backgrounds.

NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney have been appointed to key flight roles. Watkins will serve as spacecraft commander and Delaney will serve as pilot. They are joined by Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutrik and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, who will serve as mission specialists. The crew represents three space agencies working together on the International Space Station program.Once aboard the space station, the team will be integrated into the Expedition 75 action. Their responsibilities include conducting experiments in microgravity, supporting maintenance tasks and contributing to ongoing space station systems work. The mission continues NASA's work with international partners through the Commercial Crew Program, which relies on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft for delivery to orbit.

Jessica Watkins is on her second trip to the International Space Station. She flew aboard SpaceX Crew-4 in 2022 and spent 170 days in space during Expeditions 67 and 68. Watkins has a background in geology and his academic work has focused on planetary surfaces, including the study of Mars. She also contributes to the Curiosity rover science team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As commander, she is responsible for mission execution and crew coordination during flight operations.Luke Delaney is on his first space flight. He has a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering, as well as experience as a naval aviator and test pilot. Delaney worked on aircraft systems development and airborne research missions at NASA Langley Research Center. As pilot, his responsibilities include supporting spacecraft operations during the launch, docking and undocking phases.

The Canadian Space Agency's Joshua Kutryk also flew into space for the first time. His career includes service as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as well as experience as a test pilot. Kutrick has an academic background in mechanical engineering and space studies, with additional qualifications in flight test engineering and defense studies. As a mission specialist, his responsibilities include supporting science experiments and space station operations.Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov completes the Crew-13 team. He trained as a naval engineer before joining the Russian cosmonaut corps in 2021. His work background includes naval engineering roles involving ship systems and specialized machinery operations. The mission marks his first flight to the International Space Station, where he will contribute to technical missions and research activities.

Crew-13 will conduct extensive experiments focusing on human physiology, physical science and technological performance in microgravity. This type of activity allows scientists to learn more about the effects of long-distance flights on the human organism, and the results can be used to plan missions to other places.Additionally, the International Space Station has been hosting astronauts since 1998. The space station is a means of cooperation between countries and a center for various scientific experiments. The upcoming mission will continue the operations chain and help NASA achieve other goals in the Artemis program.