Dragon capsule sets speed record to ISS

The Cliff News | 2 October 2026

An international crew of four astronauts has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), completing an unprecedented eight-hour journey from Earth. The rapid transit, aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, has established a new speed record for a US spacecraft reaching the orbiting outpost.

This mission also carries significant historical weight, as it marks the first time a Black woman has commanded a crew on a journey to orbit. The launch, however, faced a three-week delay due to necessary repairs on the Dragon capsule's fuel system.

Historic Docking and Speed Record

The SpaceX Dragon capsule, affectionately nicknamed "Grace," executed a seamless docking with the ISS on Thursday. The entire journey, from liftoff to docking, took a remarkable seven hours and 55 minutes. This duration sets a new benchmark, making it the fastest trip by a US spacecraft to the space station to date.

The launch from Cape Canaveral proceeded smoothly, overcoming initial concerns about thick morning clouds. The skies eventually cleared sufficiently to permit a safe liftoff at 11:10 AM (1510 GMT). During the approach, live broadcasts on Nasa TV showcased the capsule gliding gracefully towards the ISS. Both spacecraft were traversing space at an impressive velocity of approximately 17,500 mph (28,100 km/h).

A Diverse Crew and Historic Command

The newly arrived astronauts comprise a diverse international team. The crew members are Americans Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Joshua Kutryk, and Russian Sergey Teteryatnikov. They successfully entered the space station through a pressurized vestibule and established communication with colleagues on Earth late Thursday.

Commander Jessica Watkins conveyed her immense excitement upon arrival, stating:

We are so excited to be here. This is truly a special place. It's amazing and kind of ironic to think that it's such a short trip to get here because the journey to get here has been long.