The crew will return to Earth in the same Dragon capsule, splashing down in the Pacific at the mission's end.

Delaney is nicknamed “Mr. Reliable,” a label his commander says fits his dependable contributions to the team.

Delaney’s family background—his wife Tracey, two daughters, and his parents Robert and Stephanie—is highlighted to illustrate his Central Florida roots.

Crew-13 comprises four astronauts: NASA commander Jessica Watkins, NASA pilot Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos mission specialist Sergey Teteryatnikov, joining Expedition 75 for a long-duration stay.

Delaney's path spans a Marine Corps career, a mechanical engineering degree from the University of North Florida, and an aerospace engineering master’s from the Naval Postgraduate School, culminating in NASA selection in 2021 and astronaut candidate training starting in 2022.

Floridian astronaut Frank Rubio is noted as a fellow mission specialist for Artemis III, with a record-setting long spaceflight and Luna lander testing work, and is from Miami.

A Central Florida native, Luke Delaney, has been selected to pilot NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station, with liftoff targeted no earlier than mid-September from Cape Canaveral.

The mission is Expedition 75, and Delaney is excited about spacewalks and the crew’s robust science agenda, including studies on blood flow characterization, microgravity-induced fluid shifts affecting vision, and stem cell development.

Crew-13 underscores international collaboration on the ISS, with NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and Roscosmos, highlighting teamwork and adaptability as core to the flight.

Delaney sees this mission as a homecoming and hopes to inspire Central Florida students and dreamers who grew up watching Space Shuttle launches.

Prelaunch activities include quarantine, dress rehearsals, and integration checks at Kennedy Space Center ahead of September liftoff.

Key scientific focuses onboard Crew-13 include blood circulation research, vision changes in microgravity, and stem cell studies, alongside extensive station maintenance and spacewalks.