SpaceX launches 4 astronauts on a fast track to the International Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Four astronauts lifted off into orbit on Thursday, embarking on a six-month mission to the International Space Station with NASA. The crew, led by Jessica Watkins, a Canadian, included newcomers NASA's Luke Delaney, Canada's Joshua Kutryk, and Russia's Sergey Teteryatnikov. Watkins, who became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit, had a special reason for her journey – her wife would give birth to their child while she was away.

The launch, delayed three weeks to fix a fuel leak in their Dragon capsule, took off as clouds threatened earlier in the day but cleared in time for a swift eight-hour flight to the ISS. The astronauts will replace those who have been living on the orbiting laboratory since February, with the Crew-13 mission honoring Apollo 13. Kutryk is the fourth man to become a father in space, with his wife expecting their third child in late November.