Following the recent Artemis II mission to the moon featuring Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, another Canadian has been chosen for a space voyage. NASA has revealed Expedition 75, the upcoming crew heading to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew comprises Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk, along with NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
Kutryk, recruited in 2017 alongside Jenni Gibbons, who recently backed up Hansen for Artemis II and served as capcom for the mission, expressed his honor to be part of Crew-13 and represent Canada during this mission. Kutryk emphasized the values of curiosity, adventure, innovation, and science in space, highlighting the importance of collaboration for progress and a better future.
In 2023, Kutryk was designated as the next Canadian to embark on a six-month mission to the ISS. Initially planned to fly on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner capsule, ongoing issues have plagued Starliner, delaying its astronaut transportation services to the ISS. Despite a successful second uncrewed test in May 2022, a crewed flight in June 2024 faced significant problems, leading to the astronauts being stranded on the ISS while the capsule safely returned to Earth.
Due to the setbacks with Starliner, the newly announced 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 CSA in 2017, Kutryk has been undergoing training in Houston alongside NASA.
This development marks another milestone for Canadian space exploration, solidifying the country’s presence in the realm of international space missions.
