posted 03-22-2024 02:58 PM               

The Starliner-1 mission

Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk will be the next Canadian to live and work on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Starliner-1 mission.

Starliner-1 mission

This is the first operational mission of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spaceship to the ISS. It will launch no earlier than the beginning of 2025. The mission will be launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Upon return, the capsule will land on solid ground.

CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk will spend approximately six months onboard the Station to conduct scientific experiments and test new technologies. Canadians from all backgrounds will have special access to this mission. Joshua Kutryk is particularly interested in inspiring young people and sparking their interest in space, science, technology, engineering and mathematics by offering them an extraordinary glimpse into the greatest moments of his mission.

The personal mission patch for Joshua Kutryk

This personal mission patch was created for the space flight of CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk to the ISS. It features elements that are significant in his life and his professional journey.

Canada's emblem, the maple leaf, rises over the horizon. This points to his pride in being Canadian, as well as the importance of space for our future shared prosperity as a country. It rests on a light blue background representing the vast sky, which has always captured his imagination. The light and dark greens evoke the Canadian Prairies – his childhood home – and convey his great interest in environmental protection and healthy food production, both on Earth and in space. In the distance, the Rockies jut into the sky, a nod to his love of the great outdoors and to the natural beauty of Canada.

In the lower portion is an outline of the first plane to be flown in Canada, the Silver Dart. The two triangles meeting behind it signify the intersection of engineering and operational excellence, alluding to Colonel Kutryk's career as a test pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

In the upper portion is the ISS, the orbiting laboratory where Kutryk will live and work for about six months. While there, he will conduct research that is essential not only for astronauts, but also for people on Earth – helping improve our quality of life and our understanding of human health. The stars represent his immediate family. Lastly, the Moon symbolizes crewed missions to deep space, a new frontier that Canada is preparing to explore.

Starliner-1 mission crew

Joshua Kutryk will travel to the ISS with NASA astronauts Scott Tingle and Mike Fincke. A fourth astronaut will be joining them (announcement coming soon). The crew will live and work on the Station for approximately six months.

The Starliner-1 mission will make history: it will be the first CSA astronaut mission under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. This partnership with the private sector enables the transportation of astronauts to and from the ISS in a safe, reliable and cost-effective way, using a new generation of spaceships and launchers.