Joshua Kutryk

Early Life and Education

Joshua Kutryk was born on March 21, 1982, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. His family moved frequently during his childhood, living in locations such as Elk Point and Whitehorse before his father retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The family then settled on a cattle farm near Beauvallon, Alberta, where Kutryk attended St. John XXIII Catholic School. His family's roots in Canada trace back to Ukrainian immigrants who arrived in 1910.

Kutryk pursued higher education with a strong focus on engineering and aviation. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He continued his studies by earning a master's degree in space studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2009. His specialized training continued with a master's in flight test engineering from the Air University in 2012 and a master's in defence studies from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2014.

As part of his test pilot training, Kutryk attended the prestigious United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He excelled in this program, graduating as a distinguished graduate in 2012. That same year, he received the Liethen-Title Award, which recognizes the top test pilot graduate from the school. This honour placed him in the company of fellow Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who received the same award in 1988.

Royal Canadian Air Force Career

Joshua Kutryk's military career began in earnest after his graduation from the Royal Military College. From 2007 to 2011, he served as a CF-188 Hornet fighter pilot based at CFB Bagotville in Quebec. During this operational tour, the Royal Canadian Air Force deployed him on combat missions to both Libya and Afghanistan, where he gained valuable experience in high-pressure environments. His role involved flying the advanced fighter jet in demanding operational theatres.

Following his tour as a fighter pilot, Kutryk transitioned to the role of experimental test pilot. He was stationed at CFB Cold Lake in Alberta, working at the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment. In this capacity, he led the unit responsible for the flight-testing of fighter aircraft across Canada. His work was particularly focused on testing new aircraft technologies integrated into the CF-188 Hornet fleet, a critical task for maintaining the RCAF's combat capability.

Throughout his RCAF career, Kutryk accumulated extensive flying experience. He has logged over 4,000 hours of flight time across more than 40 different types of aircraft. His expertise and leadership were recognized through promotions, and he currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force. This background in high-performance aviation and systems testing provided an ideal foundation for his subsequent career as an astronaut, where precision and systems management are paramount.

Path to Becoming an Astronaut

Joshua Kutryk's first attempt to join the Canadian astronaut corps came during the 2009 CSA selection campaign. That recruitment selected astronauts David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen. Kutryk progressed through the rigorous selection process, reaching the top 16 finalists out of approximately 5,350 applicants after undergoing a year-long testing program. His perseverance was ultimately rewarded eight years later when he applied again during the fourth Canadian astronaut recruitment campaign in 2017.

During the 2017 campaign, the Canadian Space Agency selected him from an initial pool of 3,772 candidates. He was chosen alongside Dr. Jenni Sidey (now Jenni Gibbons) to form the 2017 CSA Astronaut Group. This selection marked the beginning of his formal astronaut training and a significant career shift from military aviation to human spaceflight. In July 2017, Kutryk relocated to Houston, Texas, to begin the two-year NASA Astronaut Candidate Training Program at the Johnson Space Center.

He became a member of the 2017 NASA astronaut class, which included candidates from the United States and international partner agencies. Both Kutryk and Dr. Sidey successfully completed this intensive training and graduated as full-fledged astronauts in January 2020. His training also included participating as a 'cavenaut' in a European Space Agency organized cave training exercise in Italy and Slovenia in September 2019, which simulates the isolation and teamwork required for space missions. This unique experience helped prepare him for the challenges of living and working in the confined environment of the International Space Station.

Mission Assignment and Changes

Following his graduation, Kutryk awaited a flight assignment. Canada announced its first Commercial Crew Program mission on November 22, 2023, and named Kutryk 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 the Starliner-1 mission. This mission was intended to be the first operational crewed flight of the Starliner to the ISS, representing a new chapter in NASA's partnership with commercial providers.

This plan encountered significant obstacles due to ongoing issues with the Starliner spacecraft. The Boeing Crew Flight Test in 2024 experienced serious problems 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 until at least late 2026, NASA made a major program decision in November 2025. The agency reconfigured the Starliner-1 mission from a crewed flight to a cargo mission, leaving the assigned astronauts, including Kutryk, without a confirmed ride to space.

The reassignment process led to a new plan for the Canadian astronaut. On April 23, 2026, NASA announced that Joshua Kutryk would fly to the ISS aboard the SpaceX Crew-13 mission. The launch was scheduled for no earlier than September 2026. This switch from Boeing to SpaceX equipment demonstrated the flexibility of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and ensured Kutryk would still receive his long-duration flight opportunity. The mission's September launch date was later delayed a few weeks to October due to a thruster issue with the Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Crew-13 Mission and Launch

The Crew-13 mission preparation followed a detailed timeline in the lead-up to launch. The crew entered quarantine at the Johnson Space Center on September 17, 2026, approximately two weeks before the scheduled launch. On September 26, the astronauts flew from Texas to Florida, with Kutryk piloting one of the two T-38 jet aircraft used for transport. His passenger was the mission commander, NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, as they travelled to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The crew remained in quarantine at the Astronaut Crew Quarters in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center until just hours before launch. The launch date experienced a slight delay from the original September target due to a thruster issue with the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The new target was set for October 1, 2026, with an expected launch time of 11:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time from Space Launch Complex 40.

On launch day, the astronauts departed the Operations and Checkout Building for the launch pad. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Grace, lifted off at 11:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (1510 UTC), achieving an on-time launch. The Crew Dragon's journey to the International Space Station was notably efficient. The spacecraft docked with the ISS just seven hours and fifty-five minutes after launch, setting a new record for the fastest transit time by a NASA crewed spacecraft to the station. This successful docking marked Kutryk's arrival at the orbiting laboratory, where he began his duties as a flight engineer for Expedition 75.

International Space Station Expedition

Upon docking, Joshua Kutryk officially joined the crew of the International Space Station. His mission is planned to span six months, covering both Expedition 75 and Expedition 76. During this long-duration stay, he and his crewmates will conduct a wide array of scientific experiments, carry out research, and perform necessary station maintenance. A portion of this work will involve Canadian-sponsored science experiments, contributing to Canada's investment in and use of the orbital platform.

Kutryk's mission holds particular historical significance for the Canadian Space Agency. He launched on the SpaceX Crew-13 mission on October 1, 2026, for a six-month stay on the International Space Station. Given the current plans to de-orbit the International Space Station sometime after 2030, his long-duration mission will likely be the last for a Canadian astronaut aboard the ISS. This represents a closing chapter in Canada's nearly quarter-century of continuous human presence on the station. As part of the Expedition 75 and Expedition 76 crew, he is conducting Canadian-sponsored science experiments.

The 44-year-old astronaut participated in his first news conference from space on October 13, 2026, just under two weeks after arriving. These communications events are a standard part of astronaut duties, helping to share the experience of living and working in space with the public back on Earth. Kutryk's background as a test pilot and engineer positions him well for the technical demands of ISS operations, from managing complex systems to executing precise robotic manoeuvres. His successful launch and integration into the station crew marks the culmination of years of dedicated training and preparation for this historic mission.

Questions about Joshua Kutryk

When did Joshua Kutryk launch to the International Space Station?

Joshua Kutryk launched to the International Space Station on October 1, 2026. The SpaceX Crew Dragon Grace spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 at 11:10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The docking with the ISS occurred seven hours and fifty-five minutes later, setting a speed record for a NASA crewed spacecraft travelling to the station.

What was Joshua Kutryk's original mission assignment before Crew-13?

Kutryk was originally set to fly on the first operational commercial flight of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner, known as the Starliner-1 mission. This assignment was announced by Canada in November 2023. However, due to continued issues and delays with that spacecraft, including a severe mishap during a 2024 test flight, NASA arranged for him to be reassigned. He was subsequently announced as a member of the SpaceX Crew-13 mission in April 2026.

What is Joshua Kutryk's military background?

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, flying combat missions in Libya and Afghanistan. He later became an experimental test pilot at CFB Cold Lake, leading flight-testing for fighter aircraft in Canada. Kutryk has accumulated over 4,000 hours of flight time across more than 40 different types of aircraft.

Where was Joshua Kutryk born and where did he grow up?

Joshua Kutryk was born on March 21, 1982 in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. His family moved frequently, living in Fort Saskatchewan, Elk Point, and Whitehorse. After his father retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the family moved to a cattle farm near Beauvallon, Alberta. He attended St. John XXIII Catholic School during his youth.

What university did Joshua Kutryk attend and what degrees did he earn?

Joshua Kutryk graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He later earned a master's degree in space studies from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2009. He also completed a master's degree in flight test engineering at the Air University in 2012. Furthermore, he earned a master's degree in defence studies from the Royal Military College of Canada in 2014.

What awards did Joshua Kutryk receive during his test pilot training?

As a test pilot trainee, Joshua Kutryk became a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School. In 2012, he received the Liethen Title Award for being the top test pilot graduate from that school. This prestigious award was also given to fellow Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield in 1988. This recognition highlighted his exceptional skills as a test pilot.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Your Space Hamilton desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.