NASA Names SpaceX Crew-14 Astronauts for Spring 2027 ISS Mission

NASA has assigned four crew members from three international space agencies to the SpaceX Crew-14 mission, targeting a launch to the International Space Station no earlier than spring 2027.

The flight marks the 14th commercial crew rotation mission conducted by SpaceX under NASA’s Low Earth Orbit Program. According to a press release issued by the agency on September 24, 2026, the crew will join Expedition 75/76 to conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations intended to support future lunar and Martian exploration.

Crew-14 roster and international composition

The Crew-14 manifest includes astronauts from NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Roscosmos. NASA astronaut Kayla Barron will serve as spacecraft commander, with fellow NASA astronaut Chris Birch assigned as pilot. JAXA astronaut Makoto Suwa and Roscosmos cosmonaut Arutyun Kiviryan will serve as mission specialists.

Barron brings previous spaceflight experience to the command role, having logged 177 days in space and completed two spacewalks during Expeditions 66 and 67 following her launch on the SpaceX Crew-3 mission in 2021. The remaining three crew members will be making their first spaceflights. Kiviryan was selected for the Cosmonaut Corps in 2021 and began serving as a test cosmonaut in 2023. Suwa was selected as a JAXA astronaut candidate in 2023 and completed his basic certification training in 2024.

Commercial crew rotation timeline

The Crew-14 mission will utilize a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the United States. Upon docking with the International Space Station (ISS), the four crew members will transition into their roles for the long-duration Expedition 75/76.

NASA’s scheduling of the spring 2027 launch follows the progression of the agency’s commercial crew rotation sequence. The preceding mission, SpaceX Crew-13, is currently undergoing final prelaunch preparations and is targeted for an October 1, 2026, departure to the orbital laboratory.

AirPro News analysis

The inclusion of both JAXA and Roscosmos crew members on a single US commercial vehicle highlights the continued reliance on integrated international crews for ISS operations. The cross-training and seat-exchange agreements between NASA and Roscosmos remain a functional necessity for maintaining continuous staffing and operational redundancy on the space station. We view the assignment of a highly experienced commander like Barron alongside three rookie flyers as a standard crew resource management strategy for long-duration orbital expeditions.

Sources: NASA Press Release