THE TAKEAWAYS:
NASA launched SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission Thursday, sending four astronauts on a science expedition aboard the International Space Station.
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"Crew-13 is another demonstration of America’s unmatched capability in human spaceflight and the strength of our commercial partnerships," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said.
The four astronauts lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at around 11:10 a.m. EST, marking the 13th crew mission to the International Space Station.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled a Dragon spacecraft into orbit, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delany, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
"Jessica, Luke, Joshua, and Sergey will carry forward important work aboard the International Space Station while helping us build the experience and capabilities needed for ambitious missions to the Moon and beyond," Isaacman said.
The spacecraft autonomously docked at the forward port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 7 p.m.
This is the fastest launch-to-docking by a U.S. spacecraft in the history of the International Space Station.
"Each space station mission adds to our blueprint for exploration, and the work our crews carry out guides our plans while ensuring we keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in human spaceflight," said Dr. Lori Glaze, associate administrator of NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington.
During the flight, SpaceX monitored a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in California.
At the same time, NASA observed the space station’s operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center in Houston.
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"Our steady cadence of commercial crew launches demonstrates the essential role the International Space Station plays in sustaining our presence in Earth’s orbit and sharpening the tools we’ll take forward to the Moon and Mars," Glaze said.
According to NASA, the goal of the mission is to carry out scientific experiments designed to advance research and technology for future missions to the Moon and Mars while improving life on Earth.
The crew will conduct research, technology demonstrations and maintenance aboard the orbiting laboratory.
"During the mission, the crew will help researchers treat heart disease and Parkinson’s disease by studying human stem-cell-derived tissues that can help improve medicine, disease modeling and pharmaceutical testing," said Dana Weigel, manager of NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
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Weigel also noted that the crew will explore crop production aboard the International Space Station and test new diagnostic medical equipment for monitoring crew health.
In addition to their other duties aboard the International Space Station, the crew will assist with NASA’s SpaceX-35 commercial resupply mission this fall and NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services-25 mission, which will happen later this year.
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