Growing up on a cattle ranch in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Joshua Kutryk always had aspirations of venturing into space, although he never believed it would materialize. Nonetheless, just a few months following the lunar flyby of Artemis II, the 44-year-old is now gearing up for a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that holds the promise of significant medical advancements.
Kutryk has been selected as one of the four members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission, which also includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Watkins, having previously spent 170 days aboard the ISS in 2022, is set for her return flight to the space station.
The primary objective of the crew’s six-month stint at the ISS is to engage in various experiments and maintenance tasks. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying the crew, is scheduled to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 12.
Expressing his excitement, Kutryk remarked on the unique privilege of representing Canada in space exploration. He emphasized the significance of Canada’s space program and its multifaceted contributions.
The upcoming mission features Canadian-led studies on the impacts of space travel and microgravity on human health. Kutryk highlighted the potential practical applications of these studies for future space missions and their implications for medical advancements on Earth, particularly in treating conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis.
Kutryk emphasized the efficiency of conducting medical research in space due to the accelerated aging process the body undergoes in that environment. He explained that these studies utilize the space setting to investigate health issues relevant to all humans.
According to Mathieu Caron, the director of the astronauts’ office at the Canadian Space Agency, Canada has carved out a niche in space life sciences.
Apart from scientific experiments, the crew will also engage in maintenance work on the ISS, including operating the Canadian-made Canadarm2 servicing system. Kutryk’s expertise in robotics will be invaluable for these tasks.
As the fourth Canadian to embark on a long-duration ISS mission, Kutryk is poised to make significant contributions to space exploration. With plans to decommission the ISS by 2030, Montreal-based space educator Trevor Kjorlien suggested that Kutryk might be the final Canadian resident on the station.
Despite this, Kutryk remains hopeful that his mission, alongside past and future space endeavors, will inspire young Canadians to pursue careers in technical fields. He emphasized Canada’s pivotal role in collaboration with NASA and the abundant opportunities for aspiring astronauts, engineers, and scientists in the country.
After years of rigorous physical and mental preparation, Kutryk and his crew are eagerly anticipating their upcoming launch in a few weeks, ready to embark on their groundbreaking mission.