‘This little bit of perfection’: Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk on seeing Earth from space

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk has found Earth from space to be a breathtaking sight, describing it as "one of the most amazing things I've ever seen." Growing up in northern Alberta, Kutryk was familiar with the northern lights but said witnessing them from above provided a completely different perspective. "To see the whole Earth, the curvature of the Earth, just embraced by this blanket of dancing fluorescent oranges and yellows and pinks — magical," he said.

Kutryk, 44, launched Oct. 1 as part of NASA's Crew 13, arriving at the International Space Station in just under eight hours. The former CF-18 fighter pilot is serving as a mission specialist during a six-month mission, which will involve scientific experiments, research, and critical maintenance work. He emphasized the importance of Canada's involvement, stating that Canadians benefit greatly from these missions and hope to continue their contributions.

The launch was an exhilarating experience, Kutryk said, noting that no amount of training could fully prepare him for the sensation of being in space. Regular activities such as eating, sleeping, and moving around require adaptation in microgravity. Kutryk likened the learning curve to starting from scratch, as astronauts must relearn how to perform even simple tasks.

During the mission, Kutryk has already begun several experiments related to the physical challenges astronauts face during extended periods in space. He reported losing five pounds since arriving at the station. Kutryk highlighted the concern for astronauts' bone and muscle loss upon returning to Earth, which can make them appear significantly older physiologically and contribute to health issues.

The mission includes Canadian-led studies focusing on how space travel and microgravity impact human health. Kutryk was seen wearing equipment for the AstroFit research project, which monitors his health and aims to develop methods for astronauts to spend longer periods in space. The space station, a world away from Kutryk's Alberta cattle farm, holds a personal reminder in the form of a pocket watch from his family's Ukrainian heritage.

Sent to the station ahead of him, the watch sits near where he sleeps, prompting reflections on how technology has evolved over the past century and how his ancestors could never have imagined his current journey.

Kutryk's own path to space was a lifelong dream, and witnessing Earth from orbit was a transformative moment. He described seeing "just one world," a realization that the planet and its problems are interconnected. "You just see this little bit of perfection that we should really, really be trying to protect," he said. Kutryk's mission comes amid Canada's commitment to space exploration, with astronaut Jeremy Hansen recently participating in the Artemis II mission, marking humanity's first lunar fly-around in over 50 years.

Kutryk emphasized that Canada's presence in space demonstrates what the country can achieve when it pursues ambitious goals and takes risks, encouraging Canadian industry, academia, and commercial interests to engage in space exploration.