Joshua Kutryk is set to embark on a significant space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) after his colleague, Jeremy Hansen, recently circled the moon. Kutryk, a talented engineer and pilot from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, expressed his excitement during a recent press call, emphasizing his lifelong dream of participating in such a mission.

Initially selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2017, Kutryk was originally slated to launch on Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. However, due to setbacks with Boeing’s mission, he will now ride on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. The launch, initially planned for September 12, was rescheduled to October 1 due to spacecraft issues, which Kutryk believes have been resolved.

During his six-month stay on the ISS, Kutryk plans to bring various items from Canadian organizations and personal mementos, including a special pocket watch with sentimental value that traveled with his family from Ukraine to Canada. Despite the watch already being on the ISS from an earlier supply launch, Kutryk finds it symbolically significant.

Apart from conducting experiments on the ISS, Kutryk is looking forward to gazing out of the spacecraft’s window at Earth, a simple yet profound moment he eagerly anticipates. Joining him on the Crew 13 mission are NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, as well as Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteriatnikov, who will also experience their first space mission.

Kutryk emphasized the mission’s significance in uniting countries and showcasing the potential for collaboration despite challenges on Earth. He believes that space exploration exemplifies a hopeful future beyond the chaos and divisions prevalent on our planet.