SpaceX Crew‑13 reaches ISS in record‑fast less‑than‑eight‑hour flight, led by first Black woman orbital commander
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon capsule from Cape Canaveral, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The crew completed the journey to the International Space Station in about seven hours and fifty‑five minutes, the quickest U.S. launch‑to‑dock interval reported. They docked the Dragon to the Harmony module, marking a new U.S. record for launch‑to‑dock speed.
Watkins is described as the first Black woman to lead an orbital crew. The arrival coincides with French astronaut Sophie Adenot preparing to return after a European record‑length mission, and the four are slated for a six‑month stint aboard the station.
How this was covered
- Right-leaning outlets covered this 4h later
- Left-leaning coverage is the most divided on this story
- Coverage peaked at 8 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
The rapid crew transport demonstrates faster access to the ISS and highlights historic milestones in astronaut representation.
How this story developed
- Sep 28 NASA and SpaceX ready to launch Crew-13 for ISS research and technology tests
- Oct 2 Crew‑13 arrived at the ISS in a record‑fast less‑than‑eight‑hour flight and docked with the station.
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