Hot on the heels of the recent Artemis II mission to the moon, which featured Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, another Canadian has been selected for a space mission. NASA has unveiled Expedition 75, the upcoming crew heading to the International Space Station (ISS). This crew includes Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, alongside NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
Kutryk, recruited in 2017 along with Jenni Gibbons, who served as Hansen’s backup for Artemis II, expressed his honor at being part of Crew-13 and representing Canada on this significant mission. He highlighted his belief in space exploration driven by curiosity, adventure, innovation, and science, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for creating opportunities and shaping a better future. The Canadian astronaut was announced in 2023 as the next individual from Canada to embark on a six-month mission to the ISS.
Initially scheduled to fly on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule, Kutryk’s mission plans faced challenges due to ongoing issues with the Starliner spacecraft. Despite a successful docking in a second uncrewed test in May 2022, a crewed flight in June 2024 encountered numerous problems, leading to delays in the Starliner program. Consequently, the newly revealed crew is set to launch on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in mid-September.
Hailing from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Kutryk has a background as a fighter pilot and operational test pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Since joining the Canadian Space Agency in 2017, he has been undergoing training in Houston alongside NASA astronauts.
The upcoming mission signifies another milestone for Canadian space exploration, with Kutryk poised to contribute to the ongoing international efforts aboard the ISS.
