NASA SpaceX Crew-13 Set to Launch With Canadian Astronaut Joshua Kutryk
NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station, with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk set to make his first trip to orbit. The four-person crew is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carried by a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on September 12, 2026.
Kutryk will fly alongside NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. The crew is expected to spend about six months aboard the station, where it will take part in scientific research, technology demonstrations and day-to-day ISS operations.
Crew-13 Marks a First for Canada
The mission has particular importance for Canada's human-spaceflight programme. Crew-13 will be the first Canadian astronaut mission conducted through NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which uses privately operated spacecraft and launch vehicles to transport astronauts to and from the ISS.
Kutryk will become the fourth Canadian astronaut to take part in a long-duration mission aboard the station. He follows Robert Thirsk, Chris Hadfield and David Saint-Jacques, who previously completed extended ISS missions.
Four Astronauts Head to the Space Station
Jessica Watkins will command the mission, while Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk and Sergey Teteryatnikov will serve as the other crew members. Watkins previously spent 170 days aboard the ISS during NASA's Crew-4 mission and will return to the station for another long-duration assignment.
Kutryk, an engineer and former fighter and test pilot, joined the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut corps in 2017. During his training, he has worked in technical and operational roles, including supporting mission control activities during spacewalks and commercial spacecraft operations.
Mission Will Support Research in Orbit
Once aboard the ISS, the Crew-13 astronauts will conduct scientific experiments and test technologies in the station's microgravity environment. The research is expected to cover areas relevant to human health, space operations and future exploration.
Kutryk is also scheduled to take part in outreach activities intended to connect Canadians with the mission and encourage interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. His approximately six-month stay will make him part of the station's Expedition 75 crew.
Launch Follows Earlier Spacecraft Issue
The Crew-13 launch schedule had faced a setback before the September target. NASA and SpaceX delayed the mission after engineers discovered an oxidizer leak in the Crew Dragon's propulsion system during routine prelaunch processing. Teams subsequently worked to address the issue before returning the spacecraft to launch preparations.
The mission now represents another operational flight under NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which has increasingly relied on SpaceX's Crew Dragon for regular transportation to the ISS. If the launch proceeds as planned, Crew-13 will begin another six-month crew rotation while adding a new chapter to Canada's participation in human spaceflight.
