SpaceX Launches Crew-13 as Triple Falcon Launch Day Gets Underway

SpaceX launched NASA’s Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station on October 1, kicking off a triple-launch day that also includes Transporter-18 and a Falcon Heavy launch of NROL-97.

The Falcon 9 lifted off from Launch Complex 40 in Florida at 11:10 a.m. ET, with its first stage landing back at LZ-40 minutes later as Dragon continued toward the station.

“Three Falcon rockets vertical at three of our launch pads in Florida and California,” SpaceX wrote earlier in the day.

Elon Musk added, “Three Falcons ready to fly simultaneously.”

SpaceX confirmed Crew-13 liftoff and, minutes later, confirmed the Falcon 9 first stage had landed at LZ-40. The company also confirmed Dragon separated from the Falcon 9 second stage and is en route to the International Space Station.

The day’s manifest continues with the Transporter-18 rideshare mission, targeted for 11:22 a.m. PT from pad 4E in California. SpaceX says the Falcon 9 will launch 130 payloads to orbit on the mission.

Falcon Heavy will launch the NROL-97 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office and the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command from pad 39A in Florida at 11:53 p.m. ET, closing out the night.

SpaceX said, “About eight minutes after liftoff of each mission, the Falcon 9 first stages and Falcon Heavy’s side boosters will return to the launch site at our landing zones in Florida and California, announcing their arrival with a sonic boom.”

SpaceX rolled its Falcon Heavy out to Launch Complex 39A on September 29, after revealing the rocket inside the hangar three days before the NROL-97 mission. The company also completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities for Crew-13 earlier this week.

With Crew-13 already underway, Transporter-18 targeted from California and Falcon Heavy set for NROL-97 tonight, October 1 is shaping up as one of SpaceX’s busiest launch days to date.