NASA targets SpaceX Crew-13 ISS launch as soon as Sept. 12; Cybertrucks replace pad MRAPs

Four astronauts are expected to launch for the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX spacecraft as soon as Sept. 12, according to NASA, Houston Public Media reported. NASA also said Cybertrucks made by Tesla will be on the launch pad. The SpaceX Crew-13 mission includes commander Jessica Watkins of NASA, pilot Luke Delaney of NASA, and mission specialists Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency and Sergey Teteryatnikov of Roscosmos under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Dana Weigel, manager of NASA's low Earth orbit program, said the crew will study human stem cell-derived tissues related to heart disease and Parkinson's disease research. The mission had been originally slated to launch in November and was moved up to September to increase launch cadence, the report said. On the pad, NASA is replacing mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles historically kept for emergency evacuation with Tesla Cybertrucks. Richard Jones, deputy director of the commercial crew office, cited the speed at which a Cybertruck can exit the blast-danger area; the trucks were not modified for the mission but were certified so astronauts could enter them in space suits.