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CP NewsAlert: Canadian astronaut takes off for International Space Station

  • Kelly Geraldine Malone

  • Canadian Press

  • October 1, 2026

Astronauts, from left, Joshua Kutryk, of Canada, pilot Luke Delaney, commander Jessica Watkins and Cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov, of Russia leave the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

MERRITT ISLAND -- Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is on his way to space, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

The 44-year-old is one of four members of the NASA SpaceX Crew 13 mission that blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida today.

The crew will spend six months at the station conducting experiments, doing research and taking part in critical maintenance work.

It's been a remarkable few months for Canadian space exploration.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen was part of the Artemis II mission that saw humanity return to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

Kutryk will be the fourth Canadian to take part in a long-duration mission to the International Space Station.

More coming.