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. Kutryk, 44, will serve as a mission specialist alongside Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov from Roscosmos. The mission will also include NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins as commander and Luke Delaney as the pilot, traveling to space aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
Weather conditions at Cape Canaveral, Fla., are anticipated to be somewhat changeable, with potential showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. Initially slated to fly on a Boeing CST-100 Starliner, Kutryk was reassigned to SpaceX following significant setbacks experienced by the former.
NASA recently encountered a potential issue with the ISS’s Canadarm2, a vital robotic arm used for various tasks. Engineers detected communication errors after a maneuver, prompting collaboration between NASA and SpaceX to prevent any GPS interference during the Crew Dragon’s docking.
During a press conference, NASA officials expressed confidence in the crew’s readiness for the mission. The team will undergo pre-launch procedures after a traditional walk-out from their quarantine facility before ascending to the Crew Dragon capsule.
Notably, Kutryk’s wife Heather is expected to give birth to their third child while he is in space. The mission’s success hinges on favorable weather conditions for Thursday’s launch; otherwise, the next opportunity is set for Friday morning.
Mathieu Caron, director of CSA’s astronaut office, emphasized Canada’s contributions to space exploration, underscoring the significance of the country’s role in building the ISS. The crew aims to rendezvous with the ISS within a few hours of launch, marking a speedy mission if successful.