NASA Delays Crew-13 After Dragon Spacecraft Leak
NASA and SpaceX delay Crew-13 launch after finding oxidizer leak in Dragon spacecraft's propulsion system during prelaunch preparations.
The update
NASA and SpaceX have delayed the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station after engineers discovered an oxidizer leak in the Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system during prelaunch preparations. The issue was found during routine spacecraft processing ahead of the previously scheduled launch date of Sept. 12.
Why it matters
The delay affects the planned crew rotation to the ISS, which is essential for maintaining continuous human presence aboard the orbiting laboratory. The four-person crew—NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov—were scheduled to join Expedition 75 for a seven-month mission focused on research and station operations.
What to watch
Engineers are conducting additional testing and reviewing data to determine the cause of the leak and necessary repairs. NASA and SpaceX will announce a new launch date once these investigations are complete. Crew members were scheduled to begin quarantine at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston about two weeks before the flight.
Sources
- sciencedaily.com — Details about the oxidizer leak and crew composition
- space.com — Information about the delay timeline and mission specifics