NASA has revealed the crew roster for its SpaceX Crew-13 mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than mid-September to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew consists of two NASA astronauts, Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, alongside Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Upon arrival, they will join Expedition 75 aboard the station for a long-duration science mission.
Crew Roles and Backgrounds
Jessica Watkins will serve as spacecraft commander, marking her second mission to the ISS. Watkins, selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017, previously flew on the SpaceX Crew-4 mission in 2022, accumulating 170 days in space. A geologist by training, she contributed to the Curiosity rover science team and holds degrees from Stanford University and UCLA.
Luke Delaney, the pilot for Crew-13, is a first-time space flyer. Selected in 2021, Delaney has a background as a distinguished naval aviator and test pilot. He earned degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering and worked as a research pilot at NASA’s Langley Research Center.
Joshua Kutryk, serving as a mission specialist, is embarking on his inaugural spaceflight. Kutryk, a former Canadian CF-18 fighter pilot and test pilot, was selected as a CSA astronaut in 2017. He holds multiple advanced degrees, including master’s degrees in space studies and flight test engineering.
Sergey Teteryatnikov, also a mission specialist, will fly to the ISS for the first time. He graduated as an engineer specializing in ship power plant operations and served in various naval engineering roles before becoming a test cosmonaut in 2023.
Mission Objectives and Timeline
The Crew-13 launch has been advanced from November to mid-September to increase the frequency of U.S. crew rotations to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The astronauts will conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations aimed at supporting future human exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as benefiting Earth-based applications.
Why it matters
This mission continues over 25 years of continuous human presence aboard the ISS, advancing scientific research that is not possible on Earth. The work aboard the station plays a critical role in preparing for Artemis program missions to the Moon and eventual crewed missions to Mars. Regular crew rotations like Crew-13 ensure ongoing scientific progress and maintenance of the space station’s operations.
Background
SpaceX Crew-13 is the 13th crew rotation flight to the ISS under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, a partnership with private industry to provide reliable, cost-effective crew transportation to low Earth orbit. The program supports NASA’s goal of maintaining a continuous human presence in space while expanding commercial space activities and enabling deep space exploration.
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Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source: