Joshua Kutryk

Early Life and Education

Joshua Kutryk was born on March 21, 1982, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and his family moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They lived in locations such as Elk Point and Whitehorse before his father retired, at which time the family moved to a cattle farm near Beauvallon, Alberta where he attended St. John XXIII Catholic School. Kutryk's family heritage traces back to Ukraine, with his ancestors emigrating to Canada in 1910, establishing a deep Canadian lineage. He pursued higher education at the Royal Military College of Canada, graduating in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

Kutryk furthered his academic credentials with a series of specialized master's degrees over the next decade, demonstrating a commitment to both aerospace and military studies. In 2009, he earned a master's degree in space studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, followed by a master's degree in flight test engineering from the United States Air Force's Air University in 2012. He completed his formal education in 2014 with a master's degree in defence studies, again from the Royal Military College of Canada, which prepared him for advanced leadership roles. His training as a test pilot included attendance at the prestigious United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he excelled.

Kutryk graduated as a distinguished graduate from the test pilot school in 2012 and received the Liethen-Title Award for the top test pilot graduate that same year. This achievement placed him in notable company, as fellow Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield received the same award in 1988, linking two generations of Canadian spacefarers. The combination of his engineering education, flight test expertise, and defence studies provided a comprehensive foundation for his subsequent careers as a military pilot and astronaut. His academic and training path is marked by a consistent focus on technical excellence and operational leadership.

Royal Canadian Air Force Career

Joshua Kutryk's military career began in earnest after his graduation from the Royal Military College, leading to his service as a CF-188 Hornet fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2007 to 2011. He was based at 3 Wing Bagotville in Quebec, and during this operational tour, the RCAF deployed him on combat missions to two major conflict zones, flying missions in support of NATO operations over Libya and also conducting missions in Afghanistan. Following his front-line service, Kutryk transitioned to the specialized field of experimental test flying, posted to the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta. In this role, he led the unit responsible for the flight-testing of all fighter aircraft in Canada, with his work being critical to maintaining and advancing the capabilities of the RCAF's fleet.

His primary focus was testing new aircraft technologies integrated into the CF-188 Hornet, a task requiring precision and a deep understanding of aircraft systems. Kutryk's extensive flying career has resulted in the accumulation of over 4,000 hours of flight experience, and his logbook includes time on more than 40 different types of aircraft, ranging from advanced fighter jets to various training and test aircraft. He holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, a rank he attained through his leadership roles and technical expertise in flight test operations, which prepared him for the rigours of astronaut training. His RCAF career provided him with a unique skill set of operational flying, technical evaluation, and leadership under pressure.

• Served as a CF-188 pilot from 2007 to 2011 at Bagotville, Quebec.
• Flew combat missions in Libya and Afghanistan during his fighter pilot tour.
• Posted as an experimental test pilot at Cold Lake, Alberta.
• Led the fighter aircraft flight-testing unit at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment.
• Accumulated over 4,000 hours of flying experience.
• Has flown more than 40 different types of aircraft.
• Holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the RCAF.

Path to Becoming an Astronaut

Joshua Kutryk's first attempt to join the Canadian astronaut corps came during the 2009 CSA recruitment campaign, which drew approximately 5,350 applicants and ultimately selected astronauts David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen. Kutryk advanced through a year-long testing program and finished among the top 16 finalists, which indicated his early suitability for the role. His perseverance was rewarded eight years later when he applied again during the fourth Canadian astronaut recruitment campaign in 2017, which began with an initial pool of 3,772 candidates. From this group, the Canadian Space Agency selected two individuals: Joshua Kutryk and Dr. Jenni Sidey, marking them as the newest members of the Canadian astronaut corps and the 2017 CSA Astronaut Group.

In July 2017, Kutryk relocated to Houston, Texas, to begin the two-year NASA Astronaut Candidate Training Program at the Johnson Space Center as part of the 2017 NASA astronaut class. The rigorous training covered a vast range of skills necessary for spaceflight, including robotics, spacewalking, Russian language, and spacecraft systems, which both Canadian astronauts successfully completed. They graduated from that program in January 2020, formally qualifying them for spaceflight assignments. In September 2019, Kutryk also participated in a cavenaut training exercise, a program organized by the European Space Agency in collaboration with Italy and Slovenia, which uses caves as an analogue environment for space mission operations.

• Applied in the 2009 CSA selection, reaching the top 16 of ~5,350 candidates.
• Selected in the 2017 CSA campaign from 3,772 initial applicants.
• Began NASA Astronaut Candidate Training in Houston in July 2017.
• Graduated from NASA's training program in January 2020.
• Participated in ESA cavenaut training in September 2019.
• Member of the 2017 NASA astronaut class.
• Selected alongside Dr. Jenni Sidey (Gibbons).

Mission Assignment and Crew-13

Following his graduation from astronaut training, Joshua Kutryk awaited his first flight assignment, which came on November 22, 2023, when Canada announced its first dedicated mission in NASA's Commercial Crew Program with Kutryk named as the crew member. The original plan was for a six-month mission to the International Space Station aboard Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on its first operational crewed flight, designated Starliner-1, positioning Kutryk as a pioneer on a new American spacecraft. However, the Starliner program faced significant technical challenges after the 2024 Boeing Crew Flight Test encountered serious issues that NASA later classified as a Type A mishap, the agency's most severe category indicating a situation where a crew could have been lost. With the Starliner program grounded for an extended investigation until at least late 2026, NASA made a major shift in November 2025 by converting the Starliner-1 mission from a crewed flight to a cargo mission, leaving Kutryk and his crewmates in limbo.

NASA resolved the situation on April 23, 2026, by announcing that Kutryk would fly to the ISS aboard the SpaceX Crew-13 mission, with a launch initially planned for no earlier than September 2026. The launch was delayed a few weeks due to a thruster issue with the Crew Dragon spacecraft, setting a new target date. The mission was part of Canada's contribution to the space station, with Kutryk slated to conduct Canadian-sponsored science experiments during his six-month stay as part of the Expedition 75 and Expedition 76 crews. Given the International Space Station's planned decommissioning and de-orbiting sometime after 2030, Kutryk's mission could be the final long-duration expedition by a Canadian astronaut aboard the orbital laboratory, marking a closing chapter in Canada's continuous presence there.

Crew-13 Launch and Docking

The final preparations for the Crew-13 mission followed a precise timeline, beginning when the four-person crew entered a standard pre-flight health stabilization period, or quarantine, at the Johnson Space Center on September 17, 2026, approximately two weeks before the scheduled launch. This measure is designed to minimize the risk of the astronauts carrying an illness into the confined environment of the space station, and on September 26, the crew travelled from Houston to their launch site in Florida using a pair of T-38 Talon jet trainers. Joshua Kutryk, leveraging his extensive experience as a test and fighter pilot, took the controls of one of the T-38s with mission commander Jessica Watkins as his passenger, completing their journey to the Kennedy Space Center. The crew remained in quarantine at the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building until just hours before launch, following strict protocol.

Launch day arrived on October 1, 2026, with the astronauts departing the Operations and Checkout Building for transport to Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named *Grace*, lifted off at precisely 11:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (1510 UTC), achieving an on-time launch from pad SLC-40. The Dragon's journey to the International Space Station was swift and efficient, successfully docking with the station just seven hours and fifty-five minutes after launch. This docking time set a new record for the fastest crewed spacecraft transit time to the ISS for a NASA mission, demonstrating the efficiency of modern commercial crew capabilities.

• Entered pre-flight quarantine at Johnson Space Center on September 17, 2026.
• Flew to Cape Canaveral on September 26, 2026, piloting a T-38 with Jessica Watkins.
• Launched on October 1, 2026, at 11:10 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 40.
• Spacecraft was the SpaceX Crew Dragon *Grace*.
• Mission is part of Expeditions 75 and 76.

Current Status and Role on the ISS

As of late 2026, Joshua Kutryk is a serving flight engineer aboard the International Space Station as part of the Expedition 75 and 76 crews, undertaking a six-month mission with a wide array of responsibilities central to the station's operation and scientific output. A primary focus of his duties is the execution of scientific experiments, many of which are sponsored by the Canadian Space Agency and Canadian researchers, contributing to fields such as human health, materials science, and technology development in microgravity. In addition to science, Kutryk's role encompasses routine station maintenance, systems operations, and public engagement activities, requiring him to participate in the regular upkeep of the station's complex life support and operational systems. His background as a test pilot and engineer provides a strong foundation for troubleshooting technical issues and operating the station's robotic systems, including the Canadian-built Canadarm2.

Kutryk's mission represents a continuation of Canada's long-standing and respected presence on the International Space Station, where Canadian astronauts have been integral to its assembly and operation since its inception. With the ISS expected to conclude its operational life around 2030, Kutryk's expedition may mark the end of an era for Canadian long-duration spaceflight on this platform, as he could be the last Canadian astronaut to fly a long-duration mission aboard it. His work paves the way for future missions to lunar orbit and beyond as part of international programs like Artemis, ensuring Canadian expertise remains engaged in human space exploration. The knowledge gained from his mission will inform future spacecraft design and long-duration life support systems for more distant destinations.

Questions about Joshua Kutryk

When did Joshua Kutryk go to space?

Joshua Kutryk launched to the International Space Station on October 1, 2026, as part of the SpaceX Crew-13 mission. The Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the station approximately eight hours after launch, setting a new record for a NASA crewed mission. He is currently serving a six-month mission aboard the ISS as a member of the Expedition 75 and 76 crews. This is his first spaceflight.

What was Joshua Kutryk's original mission assignment?

Joshua Kutryk was originally assigned to fly on the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on the Starliner-1 mission. This mission was announced by Canada in November 2023 as its first Commercial Crew mission and was planned to be the Starliner's first operational crewed flight to the International Space Station. Due to significant technical issues and delays with the Starliner program, including a severe Type A mishap in 2024, NASA reassigned him. In April 2026, NASA announced his new assignment to the SpaceX Crew-13 mission.

What military experience does Joshua Kutryk have?

Joshua Kutryk is a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served as a CF-188 Hornet fighter pilot from 2007 to 2011, based in Bagotville, Quebec, and was deployed on combat missions to Libya and Afghanistan. Later, he became an experimental test pilot at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment in Cold Lake, Alberta, where he led the unit responsible for flight testing fighter aircraft. He has logged over 4,000 hours of flying experience across more than 40 different types of aircraft.

Where is Joshua Kutryk from in Canada?

Joshua Kutryk was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, on March 21, 1982. Due to his father's career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, his family moved frequently during his childhood. They lived in Fort Saskatchewan, Elk Point, and Whitehorse before finally settling on a cattle farm near Beauvallon, Alberta after his father retired. He attended St. John XXIII Catholic School during his youth.

What awards has Joshua Kutryk won?

Joshua Kutryk won the Liethen-Title Award in 2012. This award is presented to the top test pilot graduate from the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was also a distinguished graduate of that school. The award holds special significance as it was also conferred upon his fellow Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield in 1988. This recognition came during Kutryk's training as a test pilot trainee before his selection as an astronaut.

Why is Joshua Kutryk's mission considered significant for Canada?

Joshua Kutryk's mission is significant for Canada because he will likely be the last Canadian astronaut to fly a long duration mission aboard the International Space Station. The ISS is scheduled to be decommissioned around 2030. His flight on SpaceX Crew 13, which launched on October 1 2026, continues Canada's involvement in human spaceflight. During the six month Expedition 75 and 76 missions, he and the crew will carry out Canadian sponsored science experiments. This mission effectively represents the closing of a major chapter in Canada's history of crewed missions to the orbiting laboratory.

Sources and further reading

• Joshua Kutryk (Wikipedia)
• Joshua Kutryk's launch to the ISS is another example of ... (cbc.ca)
• Canadian astronaut reaches International Space Station ... (thestar.com)
• Joshua Kutryk and the Next Chapter of Canada's Space Story (canhist.ca)

Checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.