Key Takeaways
- NASA and SpaceX are targeting October 1, 2026, at 11:10 a.m. ET as the earliest Crew-13 launch opportunity.
- Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk will serve as a mission specialist on Crew-13.
- Kutryk is expected to spend approximately six months aboard the International Space Station conducting scientific research and testing new technologies.
Joshua Kutryk Set for First Spaceflight
Kutryk will participate in Crew-13 as a Canadian Space Agency mission specialist.
The mission will be his first trip to space and will make him the fourth Canadian Space Agency astronaut to undertake a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.
The CSA says Kutryk is expected to spend approximately six months aboard the Station, where he will conduct scientific research and test new technologies.
Crew-13 Targets October 1 Launch
NASA and SpaceX are currently targeting Thursday, October 1, at 11:10 a.m. ET as the earliest opportunity for Crew-13 to launch.
NASA says the crew will launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carried by a Falcon 9 rocket.
Before launch, teams are completing final preparations and reviews involving the crew, spacecraft and International Space Station.
NASA has also confirmed that the four Crew-13 members have entered quarantine as part of routine prelaunch preparations.
Four Astronauts Will Join the Mission
Crew-13 includes NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov.
Watkins will serve as spacecraft commander, while Delaney will be the pilot. Kutryk and Teteryatnikov will serve as mission specialists.
After reaching the International Space Station, the Crew-13 astronauts will become members of Expedition 75.
Six Months of Research in Orbit
Kutryk is expected to spend approximately six months aboard the International Space Station.
During the mission, he will participate in scientific research and technology testing. NASA says the Crew-13 mission will support research and technology activities aimed at advancing knowledge for future space exploration and improving life on Earth.
The International Space Station provides a microgravity environment where researchers can conduct experiments that are difficult or impossible to perform on Earth.
Final Media Opportunity Before Launch
The Canadian Space Agency scheduled a virtual question-and-answer session with Kutryk for September 24 at 10 a.m. ET.
The CSA described the session as the final opportunity for media to speak with Kutryk before the launch.
The event is being held virtually, with registered journalists receiving participation instructions from the Canadian Space Agency.
A Major Milestone for Canada’s Space Program
Kutryk's upcoming mission represents another long-duration Canadian presence aboard the International Space Station.
The CSA says he will be the first Canadian astronaut to go to space as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
His participation also connects Canada's astronaut program with NASA's commercial human-spaceflight partnership, which uses privately developed spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
What Happens Next?
NASA and SpaceX will continue final launch preparations ahead of the October 1 opportunity.
The teams must complete readiness reviews and confirm that the astronauts, Dragon spacecraft, Falcon 9 rocket and International Space Station are prepared for the mission.
If the October 1 opportunity proceeds as planned, Kutryk will begin his first journey into orbit and join the Expedition 75 crew aboard the International Space Station.