Today, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk has embarked on his first space mission, a journey that will take him to the International Space Station (the Station) for approximately six months. Joining him on the SpaceX Crew-13 mission are NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Together, they lifted off aboard a Dragon crew spacecraft at 11:10 am ET, on a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida.
During his mission, Joshua will contribute to several Canadian and international science experiments, mostly focused on health research. He will test a new physical training protocol for astronauts and take part in Canadian experiments related to mental health, bone density, cardiorespiratory health, perception of orientation, anemia and ocular rigidity. He will also perform technology demonstrations that will help advance space exploration and improve life on Earth.
Joshua is expected to carry out regular maintenance and repair tasks on the Station, as well as support a broad range of operations, including a vast array of robotics activities and spacewalks. Throughout the mission, Joshua will share his experience with Canadians from orbit, helping bring the excitement of space exploration to classrooms and communities across the country, while inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers.
Joshua's mission to the Station follows Canada's historic participation in the Artemis II mission, which carried humans farther from Earth than ever before, including the first Canadian to take part in a lunar mission. Canada's contributions to the Station program have delivered far-reaching economic, industrial, scientific and societal benefits to Canadians. The program has supported hundreds of high-quality jobs, fostered the development of a highly skilled workforce, inspired students to pursue careers in science and technology, and accelerated innovation across sectors. Canada's expertise in space exploration and robotics and our ingenuity has strengthened Canada's position as a global leader. Canadians nationwide are advancing cutting-edge research and technologies that help address the challenges of long-duration human spaceflight, while delivering tangible benefits that enhance health, productivity, and quality of life on Earth.
