Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is preparing to join NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 mission to the International Space Station, which will spend six months conducting experiments and maintenance work. The crew, including astronauts from Canada, the US, and Russia, will be carried by a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launching on September 12 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Kutryk notes that Canadian-led studies on space travel's effects on human health may have practical applications for medicine on Earth, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating heart disease and osteoporosis. This is the fourth long-duration mission to the ISS with a Canadian astronaut, and NASA plans to decommission the station by 2030.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Canadian astronaut prepares for International Space Station mission
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astronaut → prepare → mission
Astronaut from Alberta is 1 of 4 members assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 mission
Growing up on a cattle farm in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Joshua Kutryk says he dreamt of going to space though he never thought it would happen.
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it → assign → space
But a few months after Artemis II's lunar flyby, the 44-year-old is preparing for a mission to the International Space Station that could lead to medical breakthroughs.
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that → prepare → breakthroughs
Kutryk is one of four members assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 mission.
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Kutryk → assign → mission
He will join NASA's Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
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He → join → Watkins
Watkins will be returning to the space station for the second time.
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Watkins → return → time
The crew will spend six months at the station to conduct experiments and maintenance work.
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crew → spend → experiments
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the crew is expected to take off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 12.
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spacecraft → carry → Sept.
“There's something really unique and really special about being involved as a Canadian,” said Kutryk.
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Kutryk → be → Canadian
“There is something very special about Canada's space program and how much we do with it.”
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we → be → it
The mission includes Canadian-led studies on how space travel and microgravity can affect human health.
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travel → include → health
According to Kutryk, much of the Canadian-sponsored science could have practical applications for future space exploration.
uncertain
much → accord → exploration
But he added some of those studies will be able to advance medicine on Earth.
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some → add → Earth
The experiments could help develop treatments for heart disease or osteoporosis as radiation and microgravity affect cardiovascular health and bone density, Kutryk explained.
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Kutryk → help → health
It can be efficient to conduct medical studies in space since the body ages faster in that environment, he added during a press briefing.
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he → conduct → briefing
“They're using the space environment and my body as the sample case to study problems that all humans eventually encounter here on Earth,” Kutryk said.
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Kutryk → use → Earth
Mathieu Caron, director of the astronauts' office at the Canadian Space Agency, said space life sciences “has become a niche for Canada.”
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sciences → say → Canada
The crew will also conduct maintenance work on the station, including the Canadian-made servicing system, nicknamed Canadarm2.
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crew → conduct → system
Kutryk will bring his expertise in robotics on board, said Caron.
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Caron → bring → board
Kutryk is the fourth Canadian to take part in a long-duration mission to the International Space Station.
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Kutryk → take → Station
Montreal-based space educator Trevor Kjorlien said that with NASA planning to decommission the station in 2030, Kutryk may be the last Canadian to live on the station.
“I think it's a prime opportunity over the next six months after he launches for many Canadians to be able to see [the station], because it'll probably be the last time they see it with a Canadian on board,” he said.
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he → base → board
But Kutryk said he hopes that both the recent Artemis II and the future Crew 13's missions will be a source of inspiration for young Canadians in technical fields.
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II → say → fields
He said Canada has been at the forefront of space exploration with NASA by participating in both missions.
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Canada → say → missions
“I hope that when young people look at that, they realize that we're at a truly defining moment,” he said.
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he → hope → moment
“The future of space flight for Canada is very, very bright if you choose it to be so.
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you → choose → it
After spending years physically and mentally preparing for the mission, Kutryk and his crew said they're ready to take off in just a few weeks.
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they → spend → weeks
Canadian astronaut prepares for International Space Station mission
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astronaut → prepare → mission
Astronaut from Alberta is 1 of 4 members assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 mission
Growing up on a cattle farm in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., Joshua Kutryk says he dreamt of going to space though he never thought it would happen.
asserted
it → assign → space
But a few months after Artemis II's lunar flyby, the 44-year-old is preparing for a mission to the International Space Station that could lead to medical breakthroughs.
uncertain
that → prepare → breakthroughs
Kutryk is one of four members assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 mission.
asserted
Kutryk → assign → mission
He will join NASA's Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
asserted
He → join → Watkins
Watkins will be returning to the space station for the second time.
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Watkins → return → time
The crew will spend six months at the station to conduct experiments and maintenance work.
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crew → spend → experiments
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying the crew is expected to take off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept. 12.
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spacecraft → carry → Sept.
“There's something really unique and really special about being involved as a Canadian,” said Kutryk.
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Kutryk → be → Canadian
“There is something very special about Canada's space program and how much we do with it.”
asserted
we → be → it
The mission includes Canadian-led studies on how space travel and microgravity can affect human health.
asserted
travel → include → health
According to Kutryk, much of the Canadian-sponsored science could have practical applications for future space exploration.
uncertain
much → accord → exploration
But he added some of those studies will be able to advance medicine on Earth.
asserted
some → add → Earth
The experiments could help develop treatments for heart disease or osteoporosis as radiation and microgravity affect cardiovascular health and bone density, Kutryk explained.
uncertain
Kutryk → help → health
…and 12 more, not listed.
