- NASA shows us the Moon as humanity has never seen it before
- How much do Artemis II astronauts make? NASA salaries explained
Space exploration continues to advance in measured but steady steps. In the midst of the Artemis program, NASA has officially announced the names of the four astronauts who will be part of the next manned mission to Earth orbit. The flight, part of the commercial program with SpaceX, corresponds to Crew-13, whose launch is scheduled for mid-September. The crew will consist of two U.S. astronauts, a Canadian representative and a Russian cosmonaut, in a further demonstration of international cooperation in space.
A key mission in low Earth orbit: an extended stay focused on scientific research
The crew will be led by astronaut Jessica Watkins, accompanied by pilot Luke Delaney. The team is completed by Joshua Kutryk and Sergey Teteryatnikov, who will serve as mission specialists.
Once in orbit, the four will join Expedition 75 aboard the International Space Station, where they will participate in an extended stay focused on scientific research and technological development.
The agency has decided to bring forward the launch from the original schedule in order to increase the frequency of rotation of US crews on the station, thus reinforcing the continuity of microgravity operations.
The mission comes at a time of transition for space exploration. While programs such as Artemis are preparing for a sustained return to the Moon, activity on the ISS remains essential. For more than two decades, this orbital laboratory has enabled experiments impossible on Earth, from biomedicine to advanced materials.
Crew-13 will continue this line of work, with research aimed at both improving life on the planet and preparing for future long-duration missions beyond Earth's orbit.
The announcement confirms a dynamic that has been maintained over time: space exploration continues to depend as much on technology as it does on collaboration between countries.