SpaceX's Crew-13 headed to space station on October 1

US space agency NASA and private company SpaceX are preparing to send the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station on Thursday, October 1.

The launch is set to take place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Before liftoff, teams will confirm through a final review that the astronauts, the station, the Dragon spacecraft, and the Falcon 9 rocket are ready.

After the Falcon 9 rocket places the Dragon spacecraft into orbit, the spacecraft will follow a path toward the station. If the launch goes as scheduled, it will reach the station in under nine hours.

The spacecraft will dock at the forward port of the Harmony module the same night. The Harmony module provides a docking location for spacecraft arriving at the station.

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins will serve as the mission commander, with fellow NASA astronaut Luke Delaney also part of the crew.