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NASA and SpaceX Reset Crew-13 Launch for October 1 After Oxidizer Leak
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Crew-13 Launch Rescheduled for October 1
NASA announced that the Crew-13 mission will launch on October 1 from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is slated for 11:10 a.m. EDT (1510 GMT), with the Dragon spacecraft expected to dock with the International Space Station about nine hours later, around 8 p.m. EDT. The flight will carry four astronauts to the ISS for an approximately seven-month stay.
Cause of the Delay
On August 29, NASA reported detecting an oxidizer leak in the propulsion system of Crew-13’s Dragon spacecraft. The leak forced the postponement of the originally scheduled September 12 launch. Following technical inspection and repair of the propulsion system, NASA set the new launch date.
Mission Profile and Crew
The crew consists of:
- Jessica Watkins – NASA astronaut
- Luke Delaney – NASA astronaut
- Josh Kutryk – Canadian Space Agency astronaut
- Sergey Teteryatnikov (spelled “Teteriatnikov” in another report) – Roscosmos cosmonaut
During their tenure on the ISS, the astronauts will conduct a range of scientific experiments and perform routine station maintenance. Crew-13 will replace the four members of the preceding Crew-12 mission, who have been aboard the station since mid-February.
Official Statements & Responses
NASA’s announcement emphasized that the repaired Dragon spacecraft is cleared for flight and that the new launch window aligns with ISS scheduling requirements. SpaceX’s involvement focused on the inspection and remediation of the propulsion system, enabling the mission to proceed on the revised timetable.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two sources differ on the spelling of the Russian crew member’s surname: one lists “Sergey Teteryatnikov,” while another records “Sergey Teteriatnikov.” No additional clarification has been provided, and the discrepancy remains unresolved in the available reports.