Saturday 3 October 2026 · Edition of the day

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The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
1
Average plausibility
74%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
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01ScienceNorth America

Watkins-led SpaceX crew reaches ISS on reported record US flight

The Guardian reports an eight-hour journey and a milestone for the first Black woman to command a crew to orbit.

The Guardian reports that four astronauts reached the International Space Station on Thursday after an eight-hour SpaceX flight. It identifies Jessica Watkins as commander and describes the journey as a US speed record.

What holds up

  • ✓The supplied Guardian extract identifies the commander, crew size and destination.
  • ✓Its headline and summary consistently describe a US record and a command milestone.

What doesn't yet

  • ?No second outlet or mission record is supplied.
  • ?The extract does not define the record category or provide precise launch and arrival times.

Ask before you share

  • →What exact interval and class of missions does the US record cover?
  • →Do mission records confirm the flight time and command milestone?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]The Guardian · Published 2 Oct 2026 · theguardian.com