All attention will be on the weather Thursday morning as Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Joshua Kutryk readies for launch to the International Space Station (ISS).
Kutryk, aged 44, will serve as a mission specialist for NASA’s Crew-13 mission to the ISS, alongside Russian cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov from Roscosmos. NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney will be the commander and pilot, respectively, for this mission. They will be traveling to space on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon.
The weather outlook at Cape Canaveral, Florida, indicates some variability with possible showers and potential thunderstorms.
Initially slated to fly on a Boeing CST-100 Starliner, Kutryk was reassigned to SpaceX following significant setbacks faced by the former.
NASA is currently addressing a potential issue on the ISS, as reported by ArsTechnica earlier this week.
Canadarm2, utilized for spacecraft catching and spacewalks, encountered communication errors post a “walk-off” maneuver. NASA and SpaceX are collaborating to prevent any GPS interference between Crew Dragon and the station during docking.
During a recent press conference, Lorie Glaze, NASA’s associate administrator for human spaceflight, expressed readiness of the crew, including Jessica, Luke, Josh, and Sergey, for the upcoming mission.
Dana Weigel, manager of the Low Earth Orbit Program, also confirmed the crew’s preparedness and positive morale ahead of the launch.
The mission follows closely after CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s participation in the Artemis II mission around the moon.
Mathieu Caron, director of CSA’s astronaut office, highlighted Canada’s significant contributions to the ISS, emphasizing the critical role of the mobile servicing system in the station’s construction.
The crew is scheduled for a traditional walk-out from their quarantine facility on Thursday morning, followed by preparations at the pad and boarding the Crew Dragon capsule for launch.
In a personal development, Kutryk’s wife Heather is expected to give birth to their third child while he is in orbit.
The crew anticipates a quick rendezvous with the ISS post-launch, aiming for the fastest Dragon mission to station within approximately eight hours.
In case of unfavorable weather conditions on Thursday, the next launch opportunity is set for Friday morning.
Highlighting Kutryk’s readiness, Caron expressed optimism for a successful launch pending favorable weather conditions.