Growing up on a cattle farm in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Joshua Kutryk had aspirations of venturing into space, a dream he thought would never materialize. However, following Artemis II’s lunar flyby a few months ago, the 44-year-old is now gearing up for a mission to the International Space Station, which holds potential for significant medical advancements.
Kutryk is part of the four-member team selected for NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission, alongside NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Watkins is set to return to the space station for the second time. The crew’s primary objective during their six-month stay at the station is to conduct various experiments and perform maintenance tasks.
Scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 12, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will ferry the crew to their destination. Kutryk expressed his pride in representing Canada in this mission, highlighting the country’s significant contributions to space exploration.
The mission includes Canadian-led studies focusing on the effects of space travel and microgravity on human health. Kutryk emphasized the practical applications that these studies could have for future space missions and their potential to advance medical research on Earth. Notably, the research aims to develop treatments for conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis, which are influenced by radiation exposure and changes in bone density caused by microgravity.
Mattieu Caron, the director of the astronauts’ office at the Canadian Space Agency, noted that Canada has carved a niche in space life sciences. Kutryk, equipped with expertise in robotics, will also assist in maintenance work on the station, including operating the Canadian-made Canadarm2 servicing system.
As the fourth Canadian to embark on a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, Kutryk’s journey carries added significance with NASA’s plans to decommission the station in 2030. This could potentially make him the last Canadian resident on the ISS. Despite this, Kutryk hopes that his mission, along with previous and future endeavors, will inspire young Canadians to pursue careers in technical fields, emphasizing the bright prospects for Canada in space exploration.
After rigorous physical and mental preparations, Kutryk and his crew are eagerly anticipating their upcoming launch in a few weeks, poised to embark on their spacefaring journey.