Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is scheduled to launch next week with NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission to spend six months on the International Space Station.
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Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk says he is preparing for launch with NASA’s SpaceX Crew 13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with a liftoff currently scheduled for next Thursday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Kutryk, 44, is one of four people assigned to Crew 13, and the team is expected to spend six months aboard the ISS. During their stay, they will carry out experiments, conduct research and complete critical maintenance work on the orbiting laboratory.
Ahead of launch, Kutryk is currently quarantining in Houston and plans to travel to Florida for the countdown and lift-off phase. He said he is proud to represent Canada and intends to bring Canadian flags with him on the journey.
Kutryk also plans to bring a pocket watch belonging to his family, who he said homesteaded in Alberta four generations ago and arrived in Canada from Ukraine. He described the item as a personal connection carried to space.
The mission will place Kutryk and his crewmates on a long-duration assignment that relies on careful preparation in advance of launch and continued operational work during their six-month stay on the ISS, where maintenance and research are ongoing priorities.
With the launch targeted for Kennedy Space Center next Thursday, the coming days will be focused on final readiness steps following the current quarantine period in Houston and preparations for transport to Florida for launch activities.
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