Crew-13 mission
- Launch: No earlier than
- Status: In development
- Location: International Space Station
- Duration: Approximately 6 months
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk is the next Canadian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission. The crew will launch no earlier than on a Falcon 9 rocket inside a Crew Dragon capsule from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marks the first time a Canadian astronaut will fly as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
The SpaceX Dragon Freedom spacecraft is pictured approaching the ISS above China, north of the Himalayas. (Credit: NASA)
Joshua will spend approximately six months onboard the Station to conduct scientific experiments and test new technologies. Canadians from all backgrounds will have special access to this mission. Joshua Kutryk is particularly interested in inspiring young people and sparking their interest in space, science, technology, engineering and mathematics by offering them an extraordinary glimpse into the greatest moments of his mission.
Joshua Kutryk's personal mission patch
Credit: CSA
When CSA astronauts are assigned to a mission, a personal patch is designed to reflect the mission goals and the astronaut's individual preferences.
This patch was created for Joshua Kutryk's mission to the ISS.
Canada's emblem, the maple leaf, rises over the horizon. This points to his pride in being Canadian, as well as the importance of space for our future shared prosperity as a country. It rests on a light blue background representing the vast sky, which has always captured Joshua's imagination. The light and dark greens evoke the Canadian Prairies – his childhood home – and convey his great interest in environmental protection and healthy food production, both on Earth and in space. In the distance, the Rockies jut into the sky, a nod to his love of the great outdoors and to the natural beauty of Canada.
In the lower portion is an outline of the first plane to be flown in Canada, the Silver Dart. The two triangles meeting behind it signify the intersection of engineering and operational excellence, alluding to Colonel Kutryk's career as a test pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In the upper portion is the International Space Station, the orbiting laboratory where Kutryk will live and work for about six months. While there, he will conduct research that is essential not only for astronauts, but also for people on Earth – helping improve our quality of life and our understanding of human health. The stars represent his immediate family. Lastly, the Moon symbolizes crewed missions to deep space, a new frontier that Canada is preparing to explore.
Crew-13 mission crew
Joshua Kutryk will travel to the ISS with NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The crew will live and work on the Station for approximately six months.
The Crew-13 mission will mark a first for Canada's space program: it will be the first CSA astronaut mission under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. This partnership with the private sector enables the transportation of astronauts to and from the ISS in a safe, reliable and cost-effective way, using a new generation of spaceships and launchers.
Biographies
Jessica Watkins
(NASA)
Jessica Watkins is an accomplished geologist who worked on NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover before being selected as an astronaut candidate in . In , Watkins served as mission specialist for NASA's SpaceX Crew-4. During the mission she spent 170 days in space maintaining the Station and contributing to science experiments.
Luke Delaney
(NASA)
Luke Delaney is a distinguished naval aviator and test pilot. He executed numerous flights evaluating weapon system integrations and served as a test pilot instructor. At the time of his selection as an astronaut candidate in , he was a research pilot at NASA's Langley Research Center where he supported airborne science missions.
Joshua Kutryk
(CSA)
Joshua Kutryk is an accomplished engineer, fighter pilot, and test pilot with over 4,000 flight hours on more than 40 aircraft types. Joshua was recruited in to the CSA's astronaut corps and trained in Houston, Texas. Since then, he has worked in different technical and operational positions, including from Mission Control as a capcom during spacewalks and commercial vehicles proximity operations.
Sergey Teteriatnikov
(Roscosmos)
Sergey Teteryatnikov is a naval engineer who achieved the rank of Captain. He was named as a recruit after a competition and recommended for an appointment to Roscosmos. After extensive training including parachuting and water survival, Sergey was appointed as a test cosmonaut.
Missions to the ISS
Crews have been continuously travelling to the Station since . An expedition is a long-duration mission, numbered sequentially since Expedition 1, the first group of astronauts who lived and worked on the ISS in . It includes all inhabitants of the orbiting lab, no matter which vehicle they used to get onboard. During his time onboard the Space Station, Joshua will be part of Expedition 75.
Crew-13 refers to Joshua and his crewmates who will be flying to the Station onboard the Dragon spacecraft. It is the 13th crew rotation mission of SpaceX's human space transportation system and its 14th flight with astronauts (including the Demo-2 test flight) to the Space Station through NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Canada is proud to be an important partner in the ISS program. Thanks to our contribution, another Canadian astronaut will take part in a mission to the Station in the coming years.
As a crewmember of the Crew-13 mission, Joshua Kutryk will be the fourth CSA astronaut to take part in a long-term mission to the ISS.
- Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20/21, to
- Chris Hadfield, Expedition 34/35, to
- David Saint-Jacques, Expedition 58/59, to
This infographic presents Canada's research activities on the ISS, Canada's contribution to the ISS, and the number of CSA astronauts who have been to the Station. It also provides general information about the ISS. (Credit: CSA)