Canadian Astronaut Joshua Kutryck Heads to ISS in September

A small town in Alberta is about to watch one of its own soar into orbit, and the research he'll conduct could help us all understand the human body better.

Joshua Kutryck, who grew up in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, has been assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 mission. He's one of four astronauts who will call the International Space Station home for the next six months.

The mission launches September 12 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will carry the crew to the orbiting laboratory, continuing Canada's proud tradition of space exploration.

This announcement comes just months after news of another Canadian heading skyward on the Artemis II lunar flyby. Canada's space program is having a remarkable year, with two major missions showcasing the country's contributions to space science.

The Bright Side

Kutryck won't just be floating around enjoying the view. He'll be leading a Canadian study on how microgravity and space travel affect human health, research that could have real benefits back on Earth.

Understanding how the human body adapts to weightlessness helps scientists develop better treatments for bone density loss, muscle weakness, and circulation problems. These conditions affect millions of people on Earth, especially aging populations and those with mobility challenges.

The crew will also perform essential maintenance on the space station. These routine tasks keep the ISS functioning as a world class research facility where scientists from dozens of countries conduct experiments impossible to do on Earth.

For Fort Saskatchewan, a city of about 27,000 people northeast of Edmonton, this mission represents something special. Watching a hometown astronaut prepare for spaceflight reminds us that extraordinary achievements can start anywhere.

Six months is a long time to live in space, but Kutryck will be contributing to science that matters while he's up there.