--- title: "Crew-13 Successfully Launches into Orbit on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station" url: https://noti.group/crew-13-successfully-launches-into-orbit-on-thursday-from-cape/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Technology" published: 2026-10-01T22:07:33.000Z updated: 2026-10-02T08:07:49.751Z id: 4302e37c-28b9-4ecc-b053-7e6d857aa76d source: "Ars Technica https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/spacex-describes-surgical-intervention-before-launch-of-latest-crew-mission/" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/crew-13-successfully-launches-into-orbit-on-thursday-from-cape/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Crew-13 Successfully Launches into Orbit on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station A four-person crew aboard the Dragon spacecraft, carried by a Falcon 9 rocket, successfully launched into orbit on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. A four-person crew successfully launched into orbit on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, bound for the International Space Station where they will spend six months conducting various scientific experiments and performing maintenance tasks. The crew members aboard the Dragon spacecraft, which was carried by a Falcon 9 rocket, lifted off from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral at 11:10 am EDT (15:10 UTC) on Thursday. The launch had been delayed since mid-September to allow for repairs to be made to the Dragon's propulsion system. The reason for the delay was a faulty valve in the spacecraft's propulsion system, which required a surgical intervention to replace it. This involved cutting into a propellant line inside the ship to swap out the defective component with a new one. Jessica Watkins, a 38-year-old astronaut and geologist, led the four-person crew on this mission, known as Crew-13. She became the first Black woman to command a spacecraft when she took charge of the Dragon spacecraft for its ascent into orbit. As Kutryk and his family prepare for their third child's arrival later this year, he is about to embark on a challenging mission that requires him to be away from home. This is not unusual, as astronauts have had to leave Earth before the birth of their children in the past. For instance, NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik was flying aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2009 when his wife gave birth to their daughter Abigail Mae in Houston. Kutryk has expressed the difficulty he will face in leaving behind his family, including his three young children and a new addition on the way. He wrote about this challenge on social media, acknowledging that it is a sacrifice that comes with being an explorer. His words highlight the personal costs of pursuing space travel and exploration. The crew's mission to reach the International Space Station (ISS) has been going smoothly so far. They are expected to dock at the ISS within eight hours of launch, marking the fastest-ever launch-to-docking transit to the ISS by a US spacecraft. This achievement is a testament to the capabilities of SpaceX's Crew Dragon vehicle and its ability to efficiently transport crew members to the ISS. The crew's successful journey into orbit was met with excitement from mission control, who described it as an "epic ride. As they continue on their mission, they are building on the legacy of those who have come before them. The ISS has been continuously staffed since 2000, and NASA plans to keep it operating until at least 2030. The latest crew rotation mission launched by SpaceX marked its 13th such endeavor under a multibillion-dollar contract with NASA and the company's 21st human spaceflight overall. This milestone comes after a nine-year gap in US-based crew launches following the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011, which had left NASA reliant on Russia for crew transportation. However, SpaceX's success with its Crew Dragon spacecraft has restored the country's ability to launch astronauts into orbit. SpaceX currently has a backlog of nine more Crew Dragon flights, including three additional crew missions to the ISS secured through a recent $946 million contract extension. This brings NASA's total contract for 17 SpaceX crew missions to $5.92 billion. The company's plans to retire its Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 fleets mean they are now well beyond halfway through their operational life. Despite this, the recent contract extension may be the last of its kind for NASA. SpaceX's focus is shifting towards more lucrative ventures, such as its Starlink broadband service, the Starship/Super Heavy rocket, and orbital data centers. SpaceX's focus on fulfilling its contract with NASA is evident in the company's recent actions. The latest example of this commitment came when SpaceX was awarded three more crew missions - 15, 16, and 17 - prompting a renewed emphasis on preparing for these flights. This comes as no surprise given that SpaceX is currently winding down its Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 operations at their peak performance levels. Gerstenmaier highlighted the valve replacement inside the Crew Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-13 mission as an example of this dedication to meeting NASA's requirements. The launch of the Crew-13 mission was recently postponed by NASA due to a detected oxidizer leak in the propulsion system of the Dragon spacecraft during preparations at Cape Canaveral. SpaceX traced the issue to a faulty valve, which was already loaded with nitrogen tetroxide - the volatile and toxic oxidizer used by the control thrusters. In an unprecedented move, SpaceX's teams devised a creative solution to replace the faulty valve without draining the propellant or disassembling the spacecraft - steps that would have significantly prolonged the delay. Instead, they cut into the propellant line, removed and replaced the valve, then re-welded the line together, marking the first time such a repair was performed on a fully assembled Dragon spacecraft loaded with propellant. This innovative approach allowed SpaceX to complete the necessary repairs quickly and efficiently, ensuring that the Crew-13 mission can proceed as scheduled. The success of this operation showcases SpaceX's adaptability and commitment to meeting its obligations under its contract with NASA. The repair work on the Crew Dragon spacecraft's valve has been completed successfully. According to NASA officials, the fix involved cutting out the faulty valve and replacing it with a new one. Engineers are now conducting tests to determine the cause of the leak. No leaks were detected during final preparations for launch, and the propulsion system appears to be functioning well after arriving in orbit. This is good news for the Crew-13 mission, which aims to arrive at the International Space Station on time. The successful repair has ensured that the spacecraft will not have to undergo a longer stand-down. The decision to cut out the valve in place was a deliberate choice made by SpaceX engineers. By doing so, they were able to keep the mission on track and meet its deadline. This approach also allowed them to avoid a more extensive maintenance procedure that would have delayed the launch. The repair work took place at Area 59, a fueling and hazardous processing facility located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This was an unusual location for the maintenance, as SpaceX's usual hangar is located a few miles away. The valve replacement required careful planning and execution due to its confined location on the spacecraft. According to Gerstenmaier, there was limited space available, but good access was possible from a platform above the area where the repair took place. NASA officials are pleased with the outcome of the repair work, which has ensured that the Crew-13 mission will proceed as scheduled. The success of this operation is a testament to the adaptability and expertise of SpaceX engineers in meeting their obligations under the contract with NASA. The launch of SpaceX's latest crew mission was preceded by a series of surgical interventions, aimed at ensuring the safety and integrity of the rocket. These operations included checking for any potential issues with the oxidizer tank, which was filled to capacity, as well as obtaining special permission from the Space Force's Eastern Range to perform hot work" involving nitrogen tetroxide on the vehicle. --- Source: [Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/spacex-describes-surgical-intervention-before-launch-of-latest-crew-mission/) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/crew-13-successfully-launches-into-orbit-on-thursday-from-cape/