Astronaut says it's important there's a Canadian at the International Space Station

LONGUEUIL — Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk says he is having a blast on the International Space Station and is showing the world how Canada can contribute to the leading edge of space exploration. “It is important for Canada to be here,” Kutryk said Tuesday as he floated in the space station while taking questions from Canadian journalists in Longueuil, Que. “We take a lot of benefits from these missions and it’s something that we hope we can continue.” The 44-year-old is two weeks into a six-month mission which will see him conduct experiments and research and take part in critical maintenance work.

1 as part of NASA Crew 13 in the fastest flight ever to the space station — just under eight hours. Kutryk, who served as a CF-18 fighter pilot, said the launch was exhilarating and spectacular. He said no amount of training can prepare you for the experience.

Kutryk is a mission specialist on the four-person crew, which also includes commander Jessica Watkins and pilot Luke Delaney — both of NASA — and Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, another mission specialist. “Everything about being here for the first couple weeks is very special,” Kutryk said. “You just feel so lucky and fortunate to be living this experience.” This adventure has been a lifelong goal for Kutryk.

He said it’s hard to describe the first time he saw Earth from the station. It’s one thing hanging in the blackness of space and you don’t see all the countries and the problems and all the challenges,” he said, noting the space station was crossing over Canada while he was answering questions. “You just see this little bit of perfection that we should really, really be trying to protect.” The space station is a long way from the Alberta cattle farm where Kutryk grew up.

He brought a small piece of his family’s history with him to the station — a pocket watch his relatives brought from Ukraine to Canada four generations ago. Kutryk said the watch sits beside the area where he sleeps. He said he holds it and thinks about how much has changed over the past century, and what that means for the future.

The astronaut has been busy since he arrived at the station. The mission includes Canadian-led studies on how space travel and microgravity can affect human health. During his orbital press conference, Kutryk was wearing gear for an AstroFit research p…