Canadian astronaut reaches International Space Station for six-month mission - Toronto Star

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is one of the four members of the NASA SpaceX Crew 13 mission that blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday for the International Space Station.

Astronaut Joshua Kutryk, of Canada, waves as he leaves the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. 

MERRITT ISLAND - Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk’s first thought after being told Thursday he had made it to space was one of disbelief.

“I don’t really believe it yet,” Kutryk said after being told the crew was in orbit, about 10 minutes after blasting off from Florida as part of the NASA SpaceX Crew 13 mission to the International Space Station.

The 44-year-old is a mission specialist on the four-person crew, which also includes commander Jessica Watkins and pilot Luke Delaney — both of NASA — and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, another mission specialist.

NASA says the Crew 13 mission had the fastest flight ever to the International Space Station, taking just under eight hours to reach the facility.

After another two hours or so of docking procedures, Kutryk and his crewmates emerged from a hatch and were greeted with hugs and handshakes from the seven people aboard the station.

Speaking during a brief welcome ceremony, Kutryk expressed disbelief at finally being on the space station and said it’s great to have Canada represented there again.

“Looking forward to a good mission after some sleep. That’s what I’m going to go do next,” he said on the NASA broadcast.

The crew is to spend six months at the station conducting experiments, doing research and taking part in critical maintenance work.

Kutryk also faces a unique situation during his months-long deployment off Earth — his wife is set to give birth to their third child.

The space station is a long way from the Alberta cattle farm where Kutryk grew up. Before the launch, Kutryk said the crew members felt like “some of the luckiest people on Earth.”

The crew of Artemis II successfully splashed down in the Pacific on Friday night. It brings a rare, refreshing moment of unity to a close.