Canada’s memorable year in space set to continue with NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission

Cocoa Beach – Astronaut Joshua Kutryk is preparing to launch aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission, marking Canada's continued involvement in space exploration and research. The Canadian astronaut, 44, is among four crew members on a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Upon arriving at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Kutryk expressed gratitude for joining an international team, including NASA’s Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.

Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts, life sciences, and space medicine at the Canadian Space Agency, highlighted an exciting year for Canadian space exploration. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen participated in the Artemis II mission in April, marking the first moon trip by humans in over 50 years. This mission saw the crew travel farther from Earth than any before, thrilling people worldwide with their joy and hopeful message during a time of geopolitical tension.

Caron emphasized the importance of international collaboration in space missions, noting that the ISS has had crews from around the globe since 2000. The Canadian robotics systems, including the well-known Canadarm and its successor Dextre, have been crucial to the ISS's construction and maintenance. Kutryk's mission will differ from Hansen's Artemis mission; his will focus on operating the ISS, conducting numerous experiments, and experiencing life in space for extended periods.

Former astronaut Bob Thirsk, the first Canadian to spend a long-duration expedition on the ISS, shared his reflection on the privilege of reaching space. He encouraged Kutryk to enjoy every moment of the launch, describing the intense G-forces as a thrilling roller-coaster ride. Thirsk noted that time spent in space profoundly changes astronauts, granting them a global perspective on issues like poverty, overpopulation, inequality, and environmental damage.