SpaceX flight led by first black female commander sets US speed record

Astronauts on board a SpaceX flight, including the first black woman to lead a crew to orbit, has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after setting a US speed record. 

The spacecraft launched on an eight-hour express from Cape Canaveral on Thursday morning local time, making it the quickest flight of any US entity, including NASA. The ISS's convenient location when the astronauts launched enabled the fast transit.

SpaceX commander Jessica Watkins, a geologist who worked with NASA's Mars rover Curiosity a decade ago, made history by becoming the first black female commander to lead a crew to orbit.

Following liftoff, Ms Watkins, who is making her second trip to the space station after her previous stay in 2022, said: "Thanks for an amazing ride."

The other crew members include NASA's Luke Delaney, a retired Marine; Russia's Sergey Teteryatnikov, a former submariner; and Canadian Joshua Kutryk, a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force whose wife is due to give birth while he is away.

They will replace four astronauts who have been living at the orbiting laboratory since February.

The six-month trip to the ISS will see the crew conduct new research and comes following a three-week delay due to a leaking fuel system.

Earlier this week, SpaceX's Starship rocket splashed down and exploded in the Pacific after its mission ended early when one of its engines failed during the ascent to orbit.

'Four of the luckiest humans'

Thursday's liftoff was the 13th crew launched by SpaceX - which is owned by Elon Musk - for NASA, not including a test flight in 2020.

The Crew-13 designation in their mission patch pays homage to Apollo 13, the 1970 mission which was aborted following an oxygen tank explosion but ended with the astronauts' safe return.

The number 13 also featured ahead of the launch, with the crew arriving in cars bearing plates that read "Lucky 13".

They also carried up a small crocheted golden dragon named Lucky with a four-leaf clover around its neck.

"We figured it wouldn't hurt to bring a little of our own luck just in case, but clearly we don't need it," Ms Watkins said from orbit, adding that the crew were "four of the luckiest humans on or off planet Earth".

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Mr Kutryk is set to become the fourth man to become a father while orbiting Earth, with his partner, Heather, due to give birth in late November.

"A lot of life-changing things can happen over six months," NASA manager Dana Weigel said prior to liftoff, noting that the space agency will do its best to keep Mr Kutryk looped in to his family.

In 2004, NASA provided a radio link between astronaut Mike Fincke and his wife's delivery room during the birth of their daughter.

Five years later, Randy Bresnik, set to be the commander of next year's Artemis III mission, dialled in to his wife's hospital from orbit.

(c) Sky News 2026: SpaceX flight led by first black female commander sets US speed record