Story perspectives

Jessica Watkins Leads Crew-13 to ISS in Record Docking

By Drooid · Oct 2, 2026, 2:26 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

SpaceX launched the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station on Oct. 1, 2026.
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins commanded the crew, becoming the first Black woman to lead a crew into orbit.
The Falcon 9 lifted off at 11:10 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station after repairing an oxidizer leak.
Crew-13 docked autonomously at Harmony at 7:05 p.m. EDT, setting a U.S. record for fastest docking.

History

Historical Context

NASA’s Apollo program of the 1960s-70s, named after the Greek god Apollo by manager Abe Silverstein, pursued orbiting and landing astronauts on the Moon, reflecting the deity’s link to light and exploration. Modern crewed flights, now conducted with commercial launch services, extend that pioneering legacy into a new era of space access.

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Story summary

SpaceX launched the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station on Oct. 1, 2026.
NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins commanded the crew, becoming the first Black woman to lead a crew into orbit.
The Falcon 9 lifted off at 11:10 a.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station after repairing an oxidizer leak.
Crew-13 docked autonomously at Harmony at 7:05 p.m. EDT, setting a U.S. record for fastest docking.

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