All attention will be on the weather on Thursday morning as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk readies for liftoff to the International Space Station (ISS).
Kutryk, aged 44, is set to serve as a mission specialist for NASA’s Crew-13 expedition to the ISS, alongside Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov from Roscosmos. NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins will command the mission, with Luke Delaney as the pilot. They will be traveling to space aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
The weather forecast at Cape Canaveral, Fla., indicates some variability with a chance of showers and potential thunderstorms.
Originally scheduled to fly on a Boeing CST-100 Starliner, Kutryk was reassigned to SpaceX following significant setbacks faced by Boeing.
NASA is currently addressing a potential issue on the ISS, as initially reported by ArsTechnica. The Canadarm2, crucial for spacecraft capture and spacewalk activities, experienced communication errors after executing a “walk-off” maneuver. NASA and SpaceX are collaborating to resolve any GPS interference concerns during the Crew Dragon’s docking.
During a recent press conference, Lorie Glaze, NASA’s associate administrator for human spaceflight, expressed confidence in the readiness of the crew members for the upcoming mission.
The mission marks a swift return for CSA, following astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s participation in the Artemis II mission just six months ago.
As per Mathieu Caron, director of CSA’s astronaut office, Canada’s significant contributions to the ISS’s construction, particularly the mobile servicing system, underscore the country’s pride in its space achievements.
The crew is scheduled for a traditional walk-out from their quarantine facility around 7:40 a.m. Thursday, proceeding to the pad for preparations in the Crew Dragon capsule.
On a personal note, Kutryk’s wife Heather is expected to give birth to their third child while he is in orbit.
Once launched, the crew will rendezvous with the ISS in a matter of hours, making it the fastest Dragon mission to the station.
In case of unfavorable weather conditions on Thursday, the next launch opportunity is slated for Friday morning.
Caron emphasized Kutryk’s readiness for the mission, highlighting the strong spirits within the CSA team.
A video featuring Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk discussing space travel has also been shared, shedding light on the role of private space companies in shaping the future of space exploration.
