Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to command a crew in orbit as SpaceX's Crew 13 arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) in just eight hours, setting a new US speed record for the 250-mile trip.
The crew launched from Cape Canaveral on Thursday and docked at the ISS in the shortest flight time ever recorded for the journey, nearly halving the average transit time of 15 hours. NASA geologist Ms Watkins, 38, is set to spend six months aboard the station, marking her second stint after a lengthy stay in 2022.
Crew and mission details
Joining Ms Watkins on Crew 13 were pilot Luke Delaney, Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, and Canadian mission specialist Joshua Kutryk, whose wife is due to give birth while he is away. The launch was initially scheduled for early September but was delayed for three weeks due to a capsule fuel leak, which resulted in a favourable position of the ISS at lift-off.
After arriving, Ms Watkins said in a video message to mission control in Houston: "That was a super quick trip. Um, it is hard to believe that we're already here, but we are super glad to be here with Expedition 75 [current ISS mission]."
Lucky 13 symbolism
She added: "It's amazing and kind of ironic to think that it is such a short trip to get here, because the journey to get here has been long. We are just so grateful for all of the support from the ground teams that enabled us to get here safely today and all of our loved ones across the world. We are so grateful. This is truly a special place."
The mission was the 13th crew launched by SpaceX for NASA under the partnership with the Elon Musk-owned company. The crew rode to the launch pad in black Teslas bearing plates reading "Lucky 13" and carried a small crocheted golden dragon named Lucky with a four-leaf clover around its neck.
Family milestones in orbit
"We figured it wouldn’t hurt to bring a little of our own luck just in case, but clearly we don’t need it," the commander said while in orbit, describing the crew as "four of the luckiest humans on or off planet Earth."
Mr Kutryk will become the fourth man to become a father while orbiting Earth, with his wife Heather due to give birth to their third child in late November. The Canadian Space Agency offered congratulations and support for the family. NASA manager Dana Weigel said the night before lift-off: "A lot of life-changing things can happen over six months."
