Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk tossed the ceremonial first pitch at the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays game in Houston on Monday, April 1, 2024. The moment marked a proud occasion as the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native took the mound ahead of the matchup, greeting fans before returning to preparations for his upcoming space mission. The Canadian Press
Four new Canadian scientific studies will soon head to the International Space Station (ISS), where Alberta astronaut Joshua Kutryk will help explore how humans cope with life in space. The research will focus on astronauts’ mental well-being, how their bodies adapt to weightlessness, and how spaceflight affects red blood cell levels, a condition known as space anemia.
Kutryk, 43, from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, joined an online briefing hosted by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to discuss the projects. He said the studies will help scientists better understand how long stays in space impact human health and could improve life for astronauts and people on Earth alike.
Preparing for Life in Orbit
Kutryk is preparing for a six-to-eight-month mission aboard the ISS, though his exact launch date has not been confirmed. When the time comes, he will travel to space aboard Boeing’s Starliner-1, marking the spacecraft’s first operational mission. The Canadian astronaut said he feels honoured to take part in such important research.
“These studies will help us learn how to stay healthy in space and how to live farther from Earth in the future,” Kutryk said during the briefing. “It’s a privilege to be part of Canada’s contribution to science and exploration.”
Health and Human Adaptation in Space
The four studies will look at different aspects of human health in microgravity. One will track mental health and cognitive performance to see how astronauts manage stress and isolation. Another will measure how red blood cells change over time in orbit to help scientists understand space anemia, a condition that can cause fatigue and weakness.
Other research will focus on how the body adjusts to weightlessness and how the immune system behaves during long missions. These findings could guide future missions to the Moon or Mars, where crews will spend months — or even years — away from Earth.
CSA researchers said the work must move quickly since the International Space Station will end operations by 2030. “We’re racing against time,” one researcher noted, explaining that every study contributes valuable knowledge before the station’s retirement.
A Mission with Long-Term Benefits
Kutryk, a former test pilot and engineer, has trained for years for this mission. His time aboard the ISS will include scientific experiments, daily exercise, and maintaining the station’s systems. He said the mission’s goals extend beyond space exploration — the findings could also help improve healthcare on Earth, especially for people dealing with similar conditions such as anemia or stress from isolation.
“We learn about space, but we also learn about ourselves,” Kutryk said.
