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Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk set to launch to International Space Station
The six-month mission will support long-term Canadian research and study how the human body responds to space travel, officials said.
On Thursday, Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is scheduled to launch aboard NASA's SpaceX Crew 13 at 11:10 a.m. ET to the International Space Station for a six-month mission, weather permitting.
Industry Minister Joly is attending her first space launch while navigating President Donald Trump's ongoing trade war with Canada, emphasizing that "I think it's important that we are able to show that we can co-operate as human beings on space exploration."
Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts at the Canadian Space Agency, said mission safety has remained the priority for 27 years. Kutryk will conduct research on how the human body responds to space while his wife prepares to give birth to their third child.
Canada is diversifying partnerships beyond the United States, targeting European and Japanese space industries as NASA changes its operating model. Joly said Canada "has to take stock of that" and reach out to other partners for innovation.
A new space strategy will be unveiled in the coming months to bolster Canada's role in the sector. Joly emphasized that space is essential for Canada as an industrial power, pointing to Spaceport Nova Scotia as key to sovereign launch capability and domestic job creation.