NASA’s Crew-13 mission is on track for a September 12 launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to mission managers and crew members who spoke Monday from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The mission will carry four astronauts to the International Space Station for a six-month science mission focused on medical research and agriculture studies. NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, who previously flew on Crew-4, will lead the mission as commander. Joining her are pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The crew will conduct experiments aimed at improving treatments for heart disease and Parkinson’s disease, while also testing crop production techniques for long-duration space travel. These studies could help sustain future missions to the Moon and Mars. The mission’s timeline includes a potential uncrewed Boeing Starliner flight later this year, as engineers work to finalize modifications for the spacecraft. The Crew-13 launch window remains unchanged despite recent delays in other space programs. Mission officials emphasized the importance of the research, noting that the experiments will be conducted over several months aboard the space station. The crew will also welcome visiting spacecraft during their stay, though specific details about those encounters have not been released. Watkins said the team is preparing for a busy schedule of scientific work and technical evaluations. The launch will mark the first crewed mission from Cape Canaveral since 2021 and the second SpaceX crewed flight of the year. The mission is expected to conclude with a return to Earth in early 2024.