Space.com
• Josh Dinner
SpaceX launched four astronauts on NASA’s Crew-13 mission from Florida on Oct. 1, sending the crew on a fast-track trajectory to the International Space Station for a planned six-month stay. Weather conditions had threatened the launch earlier in the day.
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SpaceX launched four astronauts on NASA’s Crew-13 mission from Florida on Oct. 1, sending the crew on a fast-track trajectory to the International Space Station for a planned six-month stay. Weather conditions had threatened the launch earlier in the day.
Honda will work with Redwire to develop robotic systems intended to assist crews aboard commercial space stations. The partnership links Honda’s robotics capabilities with Redwire’s commercial space infrastructure efforts as operators plan for crew-support technologies beyond the International Space Station.
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SpaceX plans to launch NASA’s four-person Crew-13 mission and the U.S. government’s classified NROL-97 reconnaissance payload from Florida, alongside the Transporter-18 rideshare mission from California carrying Starfish Otter and roughly 130 payloads. The schedule would place all three Falcon-capable launch pads in use within the same general period.
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NASA and Boeing plan to fly an additional uncrewed Starliner test in 2026 before a potential astronaut mission in 2028, following problems during the spacecraft’s 2024 flight. The schedule also depends on spacecraft upgrades and certification of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
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Russia says it is continuing work on a reusable, crewed transport spacecraft, despite the program’s lengthy delays. The announcement offers little detail on the vehicle’s development status or timetable, leaving its path to operational service unclear.
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NASA and SpaceX have cleared Crew-13 for a planned Oct. 1 launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon, targeting 11:10 a.m. ET, weather permitting. The six-month mission includes one veteran astronaut and three first-time flyers; Jessica Watkins is set for her second Dragon flight.
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NASA is confronting a difficult choice involving SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, with the available options appearing to carry significant drawbacks. The situation highlights the agency’s dependence on a commercial crew and cargo system whose strategic importance can make even seemingly narrow decisions consequential.
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The European Space Agency has selected consortia led by Airbus Defence and Space and OHB to conduct parallel studies of a future European-led space station in low Earth orbit. The effort marks an early step toward defining Europe’s potential post-ISS human-spaceflight architecture and industrial roles.
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