Growing up on a cattle ranch in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Joshua Kutryk always harbored aspirations of venturing into space, a dream he believed was far-fetched. However, following Artemis II’s lunar flyby several months ago, the 44-year-old finds himself gearing up for a mission to the International Space Station, poised to potentially make groundbreaking advances in the field of medicine.
Kutryk is part of the four-member team designated for NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission, alongside NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. Watkins, who previously spent 170 days aboard the ISS in 2022, is set to make her return flight to the space station.
The crew’s primary objective during their six-month stay at the station is to conduct experiments and perform 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 pride in representing Canada, Kutryk highlighted the unique and special nature of being involved in such a mission. He emphasized the significance of Canada’s space program and its broad impact on various scientific endeavors.
As part of the mission, Canadian-led studies will investigate the effects of space travel and microgravity on human health. Kutryk emphasized that many of these Canadian-sponsored studies could lead to practical applications for future space exploration and could also contribute to medical advancements on Earth.
The experiments are expected to provide insights into developing treatments for conditions like heart disease and osteoporosis, given the impact of radiation and microgravity on cardiovascular health and bone density. Kutryk noted the efficiency of conducting medical research in space due to the accelerated aging process experienced by the body in that environment.
Highlighting Canada’s increasing involvement in space life sciences, Mathieu Caron, director of the astronauts’ office at the Canadian Space Agency, emphasized the country’s niche in this area.
In addition to the scientific research, the crew will carry out maintenance work on the station, including the Canadarm2, a Canadian-made servicing system. Kutryk’s expertise in robotics will be instrumental in this aspect of the mission.
Kutryk, the fourth Canadian to undertake a long-duration mission to the International Space Station, may potentially be the last Canadian to reside on the station, considering NASA’s plan to decommission it by 2030. Reflecting on the upcoming mission, space educator Trevor Kjorlien noted the significance of Kutryk’s presence on the station for Canadians and anticipated it to be a memorable experience.
Kutryk expressed his hope that missions like Artemis II and Crew 13 would serve as sources of inspiration for young Canadians pursuing careers in technical fields. He emphasized Canada’s pivotal role in space exploration through collaborations with NASA and encouraged aspiring astronauts, engineers, and scientists to seize the numerous opportunities available.
After years of rigorous physical and mental preparations, Kutryk and his crew affirmed their readiness to embark on this extraordinary journey in just a few weeks.