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SpaceX launches Crew-13 astronauts to International Space Station

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 14 outlets across the spectrum.

24 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station on October 1 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The launch had been delayed about three weeks to fix a leak in the capsule's fuel system. Watkins, who is making her second trip to the station, became the first Black woman to command a crew to orbit. The Dragon capsule docked with the ISS in 7 hours and 55 minutes, setting a record for the fastest US flight to the station. The crew is expected to remain aboard the ISS for up to six months.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. SpaceX launched Crew-13 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on October 1

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. Jessica Watkins became the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit

    Reported byLeftCenter

  4. The launch had been delayed roughly three weeks to repair a leak in the capsule's fuel system

    Reported byLeft

  5. The Dragon capsule docked with the ISS in 7 hours and 55 minutes, a record for a US spacecraft

    Reported byCenterRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. The mission is expected to last up to six months

    Reported byLeftCenter

  2. The Canadian astronaut's wife is expected to give birth while he is in orbit

    Reported byLeftCenter

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    6 outlets

    Left outlets mostly offer straightforward launch coverage, though the AP report (published by the Guardian) adds human-interest detail and Bloomberg focuses on commercial and programmatic questions.

    SpaceX Crew 13 docking at International Space Station
    CBS NewsLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    4 outlets

    Center outlets emphasize the record-setting speed of the docking alongside standard launch details.

    SpaceX flight led by first black female commander sets US speed record
    Sky NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    4 outlets

    Right-leaning outlets provide live and post-launch coverage with factual descriptions, and the one outlet covering the docking also highlights the speed record.

    LIVE NOW: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Arrives at the International Space Station
    The Epoch TimesFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left1

    questions swirl

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

In the outlets’ own words

  • Vague attribution

    questions swirlMore neutral: there are unresolved questions about the company's plans

    Attributes unspecified concerns about the company's plans to unnamed sources rather than citing who is raising them.

    …a new crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station on Thursday, as questions swirl over the company’s plans for the future of its human spaceflight program.

    Used byBloomberg (Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

6 outlets

Leads with

  • live launch coverage
  • human-interest details about the crew
  • Dragon capsule's commercial future

Leaves out

  • the flight's speed record

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

4 outlets

Leads with

  • speed record for the ISS trip
  • basic launch facts
  • Watkins as first Black woman to command a crew

Leaves out

  • the capsule's fuel-leak delay

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Sky NewsCenter

    SpaceX flight led by first black female commander sets US speed record

    Astronauts on board a SpaceX flight, including the first black woman to lead a crew to orbit, has arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after setting a US speed record.

    Read at Sky News (opens in a new tab)
  • Deutsche WelleCenter

    New crew makes the quickest US flight to ISS

    The SpaceX spacecraft carrying the Crew-13 team docked with the International Space Station in 7 hours and 55 minutes, setting a new record.

    Read at Deutsche Welle (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    WATCH: NASA launches Crew-13 to International Space Station

    Four astronauts rocketed into orbit Thursday on a space station mission that will stretch until spring, among them a Canadian whose wife will give birth while he's away.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by New York Post. It counts once.

  • BBC NewsCenter

    SpaceX launches crew to ISS

    The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral with two Americans, a Russian and a Canadian who will spend up to six months aboard the International Space Station.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)

From the right

4 outlets

Leads with

  • live launch and arrival coverage
  • mission logistics
  • speed record (via shared AP/NY Post report)

Leaves out

  • Watkins's historic role as first Black woman to command a crew
  • the fuel-leak delay

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    14 hr 25 min later

    Its first report, Oct 1, 8:33 AM EDT

  • Center

    18 hr 24 min later

    Its first report, Oct 1, 12:32 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    The Epoch Times, Sep 30, 6:08 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Epoch TimesFar RightSep 30, 6:08 PM EDT
  2. NBC NewsLeftOct 1, 8:33 AM EDT
  3. CBS NewsLeftOct 1, 11:14 AM EDT
  4. NPRLeftOct 1, 11:21 AM EDT
  5. BloombergLeftOct 1, 11:54 AM EDT
  6. ABC NewsLeftOct 1, 12:19 PM EDT
  7. The GuardianLeftOct 1, 12:22 PM EDT
  8. BBC NewsCenterOct 1, 12:32 PM EDT
  9. One America NewsFar RightOct 1, 2:01 PM EDT
  10. The Washington TimesRightOct 1, 2:06 PM EDT
  11. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 1, 4:54 PM EDT
  12. Deutsche WelleCenterOct 1, 11:23 PM EDT
  13. Sky NewsCenterOct 2, 12:00 AM EDT
  14. New York PostRightOct 2, 1:18 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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