Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk is set to embark on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Crew-13 mission. Kutryk, aged 44, will join forces with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov from Roscosmos, with NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins as the commander and Luke Delaney as the pilot. The team will travel to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, with the launch scheduled for Thursday morning, amid variable weather conditions at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Originally intended to fly on a Boeing CST-100 Starliner, Kutryk was reassigned to SpaceX following setbacks experienced by Boeing. Meanwhile, NASA has been addressing a potential issue on the ISS involving the Canadarm2, a vital robotic arm used for spacecraft maneuvers and spacewalks. NASA and SpaceX are collaborating to prevent any GPS interference during the Crew Dragon’s docking with the station.
During a recent press conference, NASA’s Lorie Glaze and Dana Weigel expressed confidence in the crew’s readiness for the mission. Kutryk’s involvement in the mission holds personal significance as his wife, Heather, is expected to give birth to their third child while he is in orbit. The crew is scheduled to perform a traditional walk-out from their quarantine facility before boarding the Crew Dragon capsule for launch preparations.
The upcoming mission follows CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s recent participation in the Artemis II mission around the moon, highlighting Canada’s significant contributions to space exploration. Mathieu Caron, director of CSA’s astronaut office, emphasized Canada’s key role in providing the mobile servicing system that facilitated the construction of the ISS.
The crew aims to rendezvous with the ISS a few hours after launch, with a backup launch opportunity on Friday if Thursday’s weather conditions pose challenges. Both Glaze and Caron affirmed Kutryk’s preparedness for the mission, reflecting high spirits among the team. Watch Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk discuss his space travel experiences in a video interview.
