In brief
SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral to dock Crew‑13 aboard the International Space Station. The crew, composed of two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut, and a Canadian astronaut, includes a pregnant commander whose twin is due two months into the mission. The launch, delayed to replace a valve, will take roughly 7¾ hours to reach the station where the crew will conduct experiments for future lunar and Martian missions. This mission makes the fourth couple in history to have a child born while one parent is in space.
On 1 October 2026, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying the Crew‑13 expedition to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew is a multinational mix of two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut and a Canadian astronaut—Commander Stephanie Taylor, who is four weeks into her pregnancy and expecting twins. Taylor’s imminent birth will mark the fourth time a parent has been in orbit while a child is born on Earth.
The launch slipped from its original mid‑September slot due to a valve replacement on the Crew Dragon’s propulsion system. The 7 hours 50 minute journey will see the crew dock with the ISS where they will perform research and experiments that pave the way for the next Moon and Mars missions, as released by NASA.
