Josh Kutryk’s successful flight to the ISS shifts focus to Canada’s next moves in space - The Globe and Mail

Canadian Joshua Kutryk is in space, on his way to the International Space Station (ISS) after a flawless launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off at 11:10 a.m., right on time. NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 1, 2026, atop a Falcon 9 rocket booster. (NASA/Joel Kowsky)He and his crewmates — NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov — are slated to dock with the ISS after roughly eight hours in space. The launch is Kutryk's first, and he felt it. "I'm in space. I don't really believe it yet. It does feel weird, though," he said. "It's good to be here. "Joshua Kutryk, dressed in his white SpaceX spacesuit and helmet, holds up his hands displaying support for the Crew 13 mission. (SpaceX via Canadian Space Agency)DON'T MISS: Halley's Comet meteors flash across the sky in OctoberThis is a historic moment for Canada. It's the first time two Canadians have launched into space in such a short time. Jeremy Hansen launched as part of NASA's Artemis II mission for a trip around the moon only six months ago.

ScienceIn his first Q&A from the International Space Station, Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk talks about relearning how to sleep, eat and work in space.'It’s important for Canada to be here,' Kutryk says in first interview aboard ISSNicole Mortillaro · CBC News · Posted: Oct 13, 2026 3:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 13Listen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk answers questions from the media while on the International Space Station, on Tuesday. (CSA/NASA)Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk launched to the International Space Station (ISS) 11 days ago for a six-month mission in space. On Tuesday, in his first Q&A with reporters while in space, he said so far, he's "having a blast. "Kutryk said he's still getting used to living in space, and he's having to relearn common skills, like sleeping ("What do you do with your neck when you're sleeping? What do you do with your hands? "), eating and using tools.

HOUSTON—As the International Space Station (ISS) prepares to mark 26 years of continuous occupancy by astronauts and cosmonauts on Nov. 2, its latest returnees offered perspective about life onboard the orbital lab. The facility is counting down to a planned safe deorbit by the end of 2030 after... Mark CarreauMark is based in Houston, where he has written on aerospace for more than 25 years. While at the Houston Chronicle, he was recognized by the Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation in 2006 for his professional contributions to the public understanding of America's space program through news reporting.

The International Space Station may be an iconic feature in Earth's orbit, but it's also getting old. For years, plans have been underway to retire and deorbit the aging space station, which has increasingly been marred by air leaks and other issues. That means by the end of 2030, the ISS – where the world's astronauts have lived, worked and gazed upon the cosmos for more than two decades – could be no more. But that hardly means NASA is abandoning its legacy of ensuring humans have a home to live and work long-term in space. Even now, the U. S. space agency is laying the groundwork to ensure that government astronauts will have access to any number of private commercial space stations that could park themselves in low-Earth orbit in the years ahead. And recently, NASA announced it is seeking proposals from aerospace companies interested in partnering with the agency to host government astronauts on its future stations. "NASA is committed to maintaining a sustained American presence in low-Earth orbit long after the International Space Station retires," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement.