NASA clears SpaceX Crew-13 for October 1 launch after Dragon oxidizer leak delay

NASA and SpaceX have concluded the Launch Readiness Review for the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station with a 'go' decision, NASA said on September 30, 2026. Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than 11:10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 1, after a leak in the Dragon spacecraft delayed the flight.

The delay

During prelaunch processing, teams found a leak in the propulsion system of the Dragon capsule assigned to Crew-13. SpaceX replaced an oxidizer valve to fix the problem. "The team successfully replaced an oxidizer valve in Dragon's propulsion system after a leak was detected earlier in processing," NASA's International Space Station account said, as quoted by WFTV.

NASA and SpaceX then set the October 1 launch date. ScienceDaily, reporting on NASA's mission update, said the crew spent time in quarantine at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, a standard step to reduce the risk of illness before launch, before traveling to Florida.

The crew

The four crew members are NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, the commander; NASA astronaut Luke Delaney, the pilot; and mission specialists Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency and Sergey Teteryatnikov of Roscosmos, according to NASA. Spaceflight Now reported that they will fly on a Dragon spacecraft named Grace for a six-month expedition, and ScienceDaily reported that they will become members of Expedition 75 on the station.

Launch plan

The Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA said its live launch coverage begins at 9:20 a.m. EDT on October 1.

If the launch goes ahead on schedule, Dragon is expected to reach the space station less than nine hours later, with docking around 8 p.m. at the forward-facing port of the Harmony module, according to ScienceDaily. Spaceflight Now described the planned docking, about eight hours after launch, as "the shortest transit time ever for a Dragon spacecraft."

Why it matters

Crew-13 is the next regular crew rotation flight to the space station under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The valve replacement and the readiness review clear the way for the four crew members to begin their six-month stay, and a successful docking on the planned schedule would set a new record for the quickest trip by a Dragon to the station.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.