Four astronauts reached the International Space Station on Oct. 1 after a trip of about eight hours, setting a record for the fastest U.S. crewed spacecraft transit to the orbiting laboratory. NASA said the SpaceX Crew-13 mission used a direct, fast route made possible by the station’s position.

The crew members are NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. NASA identified them as the station’s next long-duration crew.

The Associated Press reported that the journey took roughly eight hours from launch to arrival. That is a U.S. spacecraft record, not the fastest docking in spaceflight history; Russian Soyuz missions have completed faster trips.

NASA said the crew is expected to spend about six months aboard the station. Their work will include scientific investigations and station operations alongside the crew already in orbit.

Watkins’ assignment also marks a milestone: AP reported she became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit. The role includes coordinating the crew’s daily work and supporting the station’s research program.

Crew rotation flights keep the station staffed as astronauts conduct experiments in microgravity. NASA’s mission materials describe research in areas including human health and technology that could support future exploration.

The fast transit depended on orbital timing and mission planning, rather than a new record for the spacecraft’s top speed. NASA’s launch coverage described the trajectory as the quickest planned U.S. crewed trip to the station.

The flight shows how routine station access still depends on careful coordination among NASA, SpaceX and international partners. The record is a milestone for the journey, while the mission’s larger purpose is the months of work that begin after docking.

Sources: Associated Press report · NASA Crew-13 mission announcement · NASA launch and docking coverage