Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk is gearing up for his journey to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Crew-13 mission, set to launch on Thursday. Kutryk, 44, will serve as a mission specialist alongside Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins, and Luke Delaney. The crew will travel on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The weather forecast for the launch at Cape Canaveral, Fla., includes variable conditions with possible showers and thunderstorms. Initially scheduled to fly on a Boeing CST-100 Starliner, Kutryk was reassigned to SpaceX following setbacks experienced by Boeing.
NASA is currently addressing an issue on the ISS involving the Canadarm2 robotic arm, which encountered communication errors after a recent maneuver. NASA and SpaceX are working to ensure no interference during the Crew Dragon docking.
During a press conference, NASA officials expressed confidence in the crew’s readiness for the mission. Kutryk’s wife, Heather, is expected to give birth to their third child while he is in orbit.
The launch will mark the second Canadian astronaut mission in under a year, following Jeremy Hansen’s participation in the Artemis II mission. The crew will undergo pre-launch preparations before ascending to the Crew Dragon capsule.
In the event of unfavorable weather on Thursday, the launch will be rescheduled for Friday. The crew is prepared to swiftly rendezvous with the ISS upon launch. Canadian astronaut Kutryk is eagerly awaiting the mission, with officials expressing optimism for a successful launch.