Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is set to embark on a space mission, following in the footsteps of Jeremy Hansen, who circled the moon six months ago. Unlike Hansen’s journey, Kutryk will spend approximately six months on the International Space Station (ISS).
Expressing his excitement, Kutryk stated that he never imagined having the opportunity to represent Canada on such a mission. A native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Kutryk is an accomplished engineer, fighter pilot, and test pilot with extensive flying experience.
Selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) recruitment program in 2017 alongside Jenni Gibbons, Kutryk was initially slated to launch on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. However, due to setbacks with Boeing’s mission, he will now fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, with the launch rescheduled from September 12 to October 1.
Kutryk plans to carry various items from Canadian organizations and universities into space, including multiple Canadian flags. Among his possessions is a sentimental pocket watch that traveled from Ukraine to Canada with his family, already making its way to the ISS on an earlier supply launch.
Anticipating his time in space, Kutryk expressed a simple desire to gaze out of the window and observe Earth. Joining him on the Crew 13 mission are NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, along with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteriatnikov, marking Delaney and Teteriatnikov’s first spaceflight.
During their mission on the ISS, the crew will conduct numerous experiments, including some with Canadian involvement. Kutryk emphasized the mission’s ability to showcase global unity and cooperation, offering a glimpse of hope and progress amid global challenges and unrest on Earth.