‘Epic ride’: Skies open up to let SpaceX, NASA send Crew-13 to space

Florida weather was dicey all morning, but cleared enough to let SpaceX and NASA launch the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station.

Left to Right, Composite time-lapse photo of the return of the SpaceX Dragon booster to the Landing Zone 40; and the take-off of Crew-13 from Space Launch Complex 40 to the International Space Station, on Thursday, October 1, 2026. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, left, NASA astronauts Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, wearing prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for the Crew-13 mission launch, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

From right to left, NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, wearing their SpaceX spacesuits, are seen as they prepare to depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a dress rehearsal prior to the Crew-13 mission launch, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

1 of 20

Expand

Seminole Commission candidates Amy Lockhart, left, and Charline Santos are in the November 3, 2026 general election. (Courtesy Lynne Rigby and Charline Santos)

Democrat Santos challenges GOP incumbent Lockhart for Seminole commission seat

Carlos Muniz, right, was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court in January 2019 by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Endorsement: Support justice by retiring this Supreme Court judge

Education Commissioner Henry Mack joins Orange County Public Schools leaders on the first day of class at Pershing School in Orlando, Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Mack and the Florida Department of Education recently released new proposed science standards for the state's public schools, which have face criticism from some scientists, teachers and parents. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

‘Gobsmacked’: Florida parents, teachers decry changes to science education

Head coach of the Florida Gators Jon Sumrall looks on during the second half of the game between the Florida Gators and Ole Miss Rebels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 26, 2026 in Gainesville. (Dustin Markland/Getty Images)

Florida Gators Podcast: Sumrall resurrects football program, Golden era upon us in hoops

Latest Headlines

DeSantis signs execution warrant for inmate who wanted to be on Death Row

24 minutes ago
Magic training camp: Teaching new offense, defense at center of practice

1 hour ago
Okeechobee Music Festival paused indefinitely amid rising costs

27 minutes ago
In reversal, Orange County backs Tuscana development as costs, wetlands split board

9 hours ago
Drink up, witches! Orlando’s got boo-sy Halloween options

10 hours ago
Matthew J. Palm: ‘Hamilton’ hits all the right notes for precarious times

5 hours ago
My next great adventure: Exploring Orlando’s theme parks and attractions

9 hours ago
Sign up for email newsletters
Sign Up

Pictures: First look at Hurly-Burly at Disney’s Boardwalk

The live entertainment venue offers light bites, cocktails and music nightly after the space transitions into a 21+ environment.
Pictures: UCF Football Beats TCU 21-13
Pictures: Lake Nona vs. St. Cloud Varsity Football
Pictures: Sentinel 150 Anniversary Space Forum at Orlando Science Center
Pictures: Sushi Showdown at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs
Pictures: UCF Beats Georgia State 44-30
Pictures: Oviedo at Hagerty Varsity Football

Entertainment

Sia and the Tin Pan Alley Band perform a “modern vintage” set of songs at Hurly-Burly at Disney’s Boardwalk. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)

First look: Hurly-Burly takes over former Jellyrolls location at Disney’s Boardwalk

Disney's newest live entertainment venue opens its doors Thursday at Disney's Boardwalk with a vaudeville-inspired...

Election

Orange County Commission District 4 candidates: Brian Jones, left and Johanna Lopez. (Courtesy Brian Jones and Johanna Lopez)

‘Underdog’ faces state lawmaker in Orange District 4 commission race

Brian Jones, a Republican, is trying to defeat Johanna López, a Democratic state lawmaker, in...

Orlando Sentinel 150

Panel members, from left: Red Huber, Richard Tribou, Roger Simmons, James W. Draper, Philip Metzger, and Derrol Nail are pictured during the Orlando Sentinel presentation of “Space: Past, Present & Future in Central Florida” at the Orlando Science Center on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. This was one of several events celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Orlando Sentinel. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Orlando Sentinel 150: Panel tackles space past and future at Orlando Science Center

The event was part of the Orlando Sentinel's series of special events celebrating the paper's...

Best Reviews

Need a challenge? Try the best jigsaw puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to improve your memory, concentration and attention to detail.

Opinion

National News

This image made from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) body camera footage shows an ICE officer stopping Wilber Rafael Garces Perez on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP)

New ICE guidance bans high-speed car chases and sets tighter rules for traffic stops, a memo shows

Several drivers have been shot in encounters with ICE officers.

Politics

FILE – A sign points in the direction of the Arizona State Prison in Florence, Ariz., March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb, File)

Supreme Court denies Arizona’s bid to delay start of takeover of healthcare in state prisons

The state was found to have provided inadequate care to incarcerated people.

Restaurants, Food & Drink

You can't have a fall dessert series without pumpkin. Course 2 of The Crossing features "The Final Harvest," a warm spiced pumpkin cake with pecan streusel, vanilla ice cream and pumpkin-spiced salted caramel. (Photo courtesy The Glass Knife)

Orlando falls into seasonal flavors: pumpkin spice and beyond

Fall into the season with the flavor trend that never ends. Pumpkin spice has returned,...

Health

FILE – This photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice shows a vial of pentobarbital used in the executions of two inmates in July 2020, according to court filings. The photo was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington on Aug. 13, 2020, as part of litigation over the use of pentobarbital in executions. (Department of Justice via AP, File)

The drug used in Tennessee’s failed execution has come under past scrutiny

Pentobarbital is a barbiturate, a class of drugs that depresses the central nervous system.

Travel

This rendering shows a bird's-eye view of the shark habitat at the Bowen Aquarium, a planned facility of the East Coast Zoological Foundation at Port Canaveral. This project marks the second campus for the ECZF after opening the Brevard Zoo in 1994. (Courtesy East Coast Zoological Foundation)

Port Canaveral approves lease for $200 million Bowen Aquarium

The East Coast Zoological Society's $200 million project on the Space Coast will represent the...

Business

FILE – Power lines and utility poles stand in front of La Perla neighborhood along the coast in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo, File)

Puerto Rico faces record electric rate as demand and costs increase

It is expected to drive up an already high cost of living on the island.

Space

Space Coast launch schedule

A list of launches coming up at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force...

Featured

Latest Headlines

Most Popular

Zaxby’s, Jimmy John’s among $63M in upgrades for Florida’s Turnpike rest stops

8 Central Florida restaurants shut down after health inspections last week

Tickets, food, merch: Magic introduce value options for games at Kia Center

Boom, boom, boom: 2 launches, 3 sonic booms and 1 Central Floridian to space

Endorsement: Vote “no” on Amendments 1 and 2

Endorsement: Support justice by retiring this Supreme Court judge

Experts: Florida ‘moving backwards’ on teaching evolution, climate change in public schools

Gators’ dominant run game is rolling, but Buster Faulkner has more tricks to come

Maxwell: Faith-based voucher schools can reject students with disabilities in Florida

‘Epic ride’: Skies open up to let SpaceX, NASA send Crew-13 to space

Events

Fun & Games

Orlando Sentinel Store