Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk spoke to a full house at the University of Calgary on Monday, May 25, 2026, outlining his upcoming six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Crew 13 and Canada’s expanding role in lunar exploration.
Kutryk, set to launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon no earlier than September 12, 2026, shared that his path to space began as a quiet childhood dream on a farm east of Vegreville, Alberta. “I did know as a six-year-old that I wanted to be an astronaut. I didn’t tell anybody that,” he said, noting he viewed the goal as “impossibly hard” and dependent on “a lot of luck”.
That luck, combined with an extensive career as a military pilot, including stint as a test pilot, will culminate in an intense ride to orbit. Kutryk detailed the physical reality of a launch, noting the rocket reaches supersonic speeds in just 60 seconds and ultimately exceeds 20,000 kilometres per hour.
Once aboard the ISS, Kutryk’s time will be strictly scheduled, with his days timelined down to five-minute increments for the duration of his six-month stay, balancing station operations with Canadian science experiments. He highlighted the terrestrial impacts of space medicine, emphasizing that solving the physiological challenges of deep space travel directly translates to Earth. Advancing “remote healthcare, AI-assisted healthcare” for isolated space environments will directly benefit remote communities in Canada.
Looking beyond low Earth orbit, Kutryk framed the ISS as a stepping stone to sustained lunar exploration. Reflecting on the Artemis II mission, which featured fellow Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Kutryk emphasized the unifying power of the program. The mission served as a “beacon to humanity,” he said, proving that international collaboration can inspire global unity.
The event also took on a lighter, local flavor. During the Q&A, Kutryk revealed he is flying an Edmonton Oilers jersey to the ISS. University of Calgary Dean of Science Kristen Bates countered the northern allegiance at the event’s close; she joked that Kutryk needs a Calgary Flames jersey instead, before acknowledging the hometown team’s rough season by adding, “Somebody didn’t make the playoffs”.
The presentation also highlighted an important small satellite mission. As the Monday morning event wrapped up, attendees were invited to track a live orbital overpass of Frontiersat—a satellite built and recently launched by University of Calgary students—which flew directly over the city at 11:02 a.m.