The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) are targeting October 1, 2026, for the launch of the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), following the successful replacement of a faulty propulsion valve on the Dragon spacecraft.

In a statement published on September 22, 2026, NASA confirmed that the earliest launch opportunity is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The flight marks the 13th operational crew rotation mission flown by SpaceX under the agency’s Commercial Crew Program.

Overcoming Prelaunch Technical Delays

The mission was originally slated to launch no earlier than September 12, 2026. During standard prelaunch processing in late August, engineering teams detected an oxidizer leak within the Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system. This discovery prompted a delay to allow for troubleshooting and hardware repairs.

On September 16, 2026, NASA announced that the technical issue had been resolved by engineering teams on the ground.

The team successfully replaced an oxidizer valve in Dragon’s propulsion system after a leak was detected earlier in processing.

With the hardware repaired, the spacecraft is currently undergoing final prelaunch testing and readiness reviews to ensure all systems meet flight safety standards.

Crew-13 Roster and Mission Objectives

The four-member Crew-13 roster includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, serving as spacecraft commander, and Luke Delaney as pilot. They are joined by mission specialists Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Sergey Teteryatnikov of the State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS (Roscosmos).

To ensure their health and prevent the introduction of illnesses to the orbital laboratory, the crew officially entered routine prelaunch quarantine on September 17, 2026, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Upon arrival at the ISS, the four spacefarers will integrate into Expedition 75. Their scheduled microgravity research includes studies focusing on stem cell growth, fluid shifts in the human body, and plant habitats.

AirPro News analysis

We note that the swift identification and resolution of the oxidizer valve leak highlights the maturity of the Commercial Crew Program’s safety protocols. As SpaceX prepares for its 13th operational crew rotation, the ability to detect propulsion anomalies during routine processing rather than closer to the terminal countdown demonstrates the rigorous oversight maintained by both the manufacturer and the regulator. The shift to an October 1 launch date ensures the continuous human presence aboard the ISS remains uninterrupted while prioritizing vehicle integrity.

Sources: NASA

Luxembourg-based startups Space Cargo Unlimited has secured a contract with SpaceX to launch a one-tonne modular space factory aboard the new Starfall reentry capsule. The mission, targeted for 2028, marks a significant capacity increase for commercial in-space manufacturing and establishes the company as the first known European customer for the Starfall vehicle.

Announced on September 15, 2026, the agreement will utilize Space Cargo Unlimited’s BentoBox payload platform to produce materials in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) before returning them to Earth. According to Reuters, the startup is currently in discussions with more than 100 potential customers, with approximately 40 percent originating from the life sciences and biotechnology sectors.

Scaling up microgravity production

The upcoming 2028 mission represents a tenfold increase in payload capacity for Space Cargo Unlimited. The company previously operated missions with a 100-kilogram limit. The Starfall contract expands that capacity to 1,000 kilograms, or one metric ton.

In a press release detailing the agreement, Space Cargo Unlimited Co-founder and CEO Nicolas Gaume highlighted the historical barriers to orbital production.

“For more than thirty years, we’ve known that manufacturing in microgravity can create materials and products that simply cannot be produced on Earth. The challenge has never been the science. The challenge has been making access commercially practical, repeatable and scalable.”

Demand for the expanded capacity appears robust. Reporting by Payload indicates that Space Cargo Unlimited has already sold one-third of its 1,000-kilogram allocation for the 2028 flight.

Starfall and the commercialization of Starship

The Space Cargo Unlimited contract is part of a broader commercial rollout for SpaceX’s Starfall reentry vehicle, which is designed to fly on the heavy-lift Starship launch system. SpaceX conducted the first demonstration mission of the Starfall capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket on June 23, 2026.

Other aerospace integrators are also securing space on future Starfall flights. In August 2026, Redwire subsidiary SpaceMD announced plans to fly 32 variants of its PIL-BOX payloads on a 2028 Starfall mission to research microgravity drug development. On September 21, 2026, German launch integrator Exolaunch confirmed an agreement for a Starfall mission scheduled for no earlier than 2029.

SpaceX is actively transitioning the Starship program from developmental testing to revenue-generating operations. Speaking to the vehicle’s long-term capabilities, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk noted the company’s aspirations are to deliver well over one million tons to orbit annually.

While Space Cargo Unlimited has publicized the 2028 target for its BentoBox mission, SpaceX has not officially confirmed the specific timetable for this flight.

AirPro News analysis

We view the transition from 100-kilogram research payloads to one-tonne commercial batches as a critical threshold for the in-space manufacturing sector. The high concentration of prospective biotechnology customers suggests that pharmaceuticals and advanced materials will likely drive the initial economic viability of orbital factories. If SpaceX can maintain the projected 2028 timeline for Starfall operations, the bottleneck for microgravity manufacturing will shift from launch availability to payload integration and terrestrial market demand.

Sources: Space Cargo Unlimited

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is preparing to launch its Starship vehicle into a sustained orbital trajectory for the first time, targeting a launch window on September 28, 2026, from its Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The mission, designated Flight 14, marks a critical transition from suborbital testing to operational payload delivery, carrying 26 Starlink V3 satellites.

The 124-meter-tall rocket system, comprising the Super Heavy booster and the Starship upper stage, is scheduled for a 75-minute launch window opening at 7:15 a.m. Central Time, pending final regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). According to a company press release, achieving orbit will allow SpaceX to begin the next phase of developing a fully and rapidly reusable launch system. This capability is central to both the company’s commercial satellite deployment and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis lunar program.

Orbital profile and payload deployment

Flight 14 introduces a significantly more ambitious flight profile than previous iterations. SpaceX stated the Starship upper stage will target an altitude of approximately 275 kilometers above Earth. The vehicle is planned to complete approximately six orbits during a flight lasting nearly 10 hours.

During this orbital phase, SpaceX plans to deploy its operational payload. The company highlighted the significance of this milestone in its official statement:

“This will also mark the first time we plan to deploy Starlink V3 satellites into the constellation, delivering a payload that will dramatically expand connectivity speeds and reliability around the world.”

Following the orbital coast, the Starship upper stage is targeted to splash down in the Pacific Ocean west of Chile. The Super Heavy booster, designated Booster 21, is targeted for a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico shortly after stage separation.

Hardware reuse and safety contingencies

The September 28 mission will feature the first instance of heat shield tile reuse in the Starship program. SpaceX confirmed that two tiles recovered from Ship 40, which splashed down in the Indian Ocean during Flight 13, have been installed on the current upper stage, Ship 41.

To mitigate risks associated with orbital debris, SpaceX has implemented a strict contingency protocol for the orbital insertion burn. The flight control team must verify sufficient redundancy on critical hardware required for the deorbit burn before committing to orbital insertion. If these systems do not meet operational parameters, the vehicle will remain on a passively safe suborbital trajectory to ensure it does not become an uncontrolled hazard.

The launch remains contingent on the FAA granting a license modification for the orbital flight plan. SpaceX adjusted the target date from September 22 to September 28 to accommodate this regulatory process.

AirPro News analysis

We view Flight 14 as a pivotal juncture for the Starship program. Transitioning from suborbital test flights to sustained orbital operations is a mandatory step before SpaceX can fulfill its contractual obligations for the NASA Artemis program. The Artemis architecture relies heavily on Starship functioning as a lunar lander. Delays in proving Starship’s orbital refueling and payload capabilities have previously placed pressure on the overall Artemis timeline, as noted in reporting by The Independent. Successfully deploying the Starlink V3 payload will also validate the vehicle’s commercial viability, shifting Starship from a developmental test article to an operational heavy-lift asset.

Sources: SpaceX, The Independent