Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is set to embark on a new space journey, following in the footsteps of Jeremy Hansen’s recent historic moon flight. Unlike Hansen, Kutryk will be stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for an extended six-month mission. Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity, Kutryk shared his excitement during a recent press call, highlighting his lifelong dream of such an experience.
Hailing from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Kutryk brings a wealth of experience as an engineer, fighter pilot, and test pilot, with over 4,000 flight hours on various aircraft. Selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2017 alongside Jenni Gibbons, Kutryk was initially slated for a mission on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. However, due to setbacks, he will now be traveling aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, with the launch rescheduled from September 12 to October 1.
While preparing for his journey, Kutryk revealed his intention to bring symbolic items from Canadian organizations and his personal history, including multiple Canadian flags. Of particular significance is an old pocket watch that holds sentimental value, having traveled with his family from Ukraine to Canada. Despite the watch’s earlier voyage to the ISS on a supply launch, Kutryk plans to keep it close during his mission, seeing it as a profound representation of exploration’s impact.
Looking ahead to his time aboard the ISS, Kutryk expressed his simple yet profound anticipation of gazing out at Earth from space. Scheduled as part of Crew 13, Kutryk will join NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, along with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteriatnikov, in conducting various experiments, including Canadian contributions. Kutryk emphasized that the mission exemplifies global unity and the potential for positive collaboration beyond the challenges faced on Earth, offering a beacon of hope for the future.
