From Alberta’s Prairie Skies To Space: Kutryk Shares First Experiences Aboard ISS

For Canadian astronaut Col. Joshua Kutryk, who grew up watching the Northern Lights dance across the skies above his family’s cattle farm near Beauvallon, seeing that same spectacular display from the other side of the atmosphere has been an experience he will never forget.

Less than two weeks after launching into space aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission on October 1, Kutryk spoke with Canadian media on October 13 during his first press conference from the International Space Station (ISS), sharing his excitement, the challenges of adjusting to weightlessness, and the remarkable sights he has witnessed while orbiting approximately 400 kilometres above Earth.

Among the many experiences he described, witnessing the Northern Lights from space held special significance for the Alberta-raised astronaut.

“We did see the northern lights happen. We were able to predict it. Sure enough, we went to the window and we saw it,” Kutryk said.

Describing the colourful display stretching across the curvature of Earth, he called it one of the most amazing things he had ever witnessed.

“To see the whole Earth, the curvature of the Earth, just embraced by this blanket of dancing fluorescent oranges and yellows and pinks, magical. You would think it was magic if you didn’t know what it was.”

For Kutryk, who spent his childhood beneath the wide-open skies of rural Alberta, the experience brought back memories of home.

“It’s really neat for me because from northern Alberta, I’ve seen the Northern Lights a lot. I mean, I used to see them all the time growing up. But to see them from the other side is so much more spectacular. It’s mind-blowing.”

While the views from space have been breathtaking, Kutryk admitted that adjusting to life without gravity has presented some unexpected challenges.

“I think I am still getting used to it,” he said.

Although he spent years preparing for his mission, Kutryk explained that adapting physically to microgravity has been one of the greatest challenges.

“You have to sort of learn to do everything again almost like you’re a child,” he said, describing how even ordinary activities such as eating, sleeping, moving around and using tools require an entirely different approach.

“It’s like you’re two or three years old again learning to do the most simple things in life. It can be very frustrating.”

Despite those challenges, Kutryk said the experience has also been incredibly rewarding, particularly when he has an opportunity to look out the station’s windows and reflect on where he is.

During the conference, Kutryk was also asked about a treasured family heirloom he brought into space — a watch that originally belonged to his great-grandfather, who immigrated to Canada from Ukraine.

The watch, which has been passed down through four generations of his family, now rests beside Kutryk’s sleeping area aboard the International Space Station.

For Kutryk, holding something connected to his family’s beginnings in Canada while orbiting Earth aboard one of humanity’s most technologically advanced creations has been a remarkable experience.

He reflected on how much the world has changed over the past century and how much it could change over the next 100 years, depending on the decisions people make today.

The experience, he said, “makes you feel small, makes me feel fortunate.”

Another particularly memorable moment came when Kutryk was asked to describe seeing Earth from space for the first time.

“It’s hard to describe. It’s just an absolutely spectacular experience,” he said.

Looking down at the planet, Kutryk said the view has changed how he thinks about the world and humanity’s responsibility to protect it.

“You don’t see all the countries and all the problems and all the challenges, you just see this little bit of perfection that we should really really be trying to protect.”

As he spoke, Kutryk noted that the space station was passing over Canada, approaching Vancouver before continuing eastward across the country.

While much of the attention surrounding his mission has focused on the excitement of space travel, Kutryk emphasized that the work being carried out aboard the ISS is equally important.

He has already begun participating in Canadian scientific investigations, including the use of Bio-Monitor, a wearable Canadian-developed system designed to monitor astronauts’ vital signs and health while they live and work in space.

During the interview, Kutryk demonstrated some of the equipment he was wearing beneath his clothing, including sensors used to collect health information.

He is also participating in AstroFit, a specialized exercise program designed to help astronauts maintain their physical fitness and reduce the effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity.

The research is intended to help scientists better understand the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, with the ultimate goal of supporting future missions farther into space, including journeys to the Moon.

Other Canadian investigations include C-STARS, which examines the mental well-being of astronauts during long-duration space missions, and SANSORI-2, which studies the changes in vision that some astronauts experience while living in microgravity.

Kutryk also discussed the physical toll that living in space can take on the human body, particularly the loss of bone density and muscle mass.

He revealed that after his first week aboard the ISS, he had lost approximately five pounds.

Although he expects to regain that weight through proper nutrition and the station’s exercise program, he stressed that maintaining astronaut health is one of the greatest challenges associated with extended space missions.

Without measures to counteract the effects of microgravity, astronauts can experience significant losses in muscle and bone strength during a six-month mission.

To help reduce those effects, crew members follow demanding exercise routines, carefully monitor their nutrition and work closely with medical professionals.

Kutryk said he will also participate in a Canadian experiment known as TBone2, which involves researchers from across Canada, including Calgary, studying the effects of spaceflight on bone health.

The research is important not only for astronauts currently living aboard the station but also for future missions to the Moon and beyond.

Kutryk also reflected on the experience of launching into space, describing the first few minutes aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft as powerful, exhilarating and unlike anything he had previously experienced during his career as a fighter and test pilot.

“The first three minutes of flight are exhilarating, spectacular, powerful, violent,” he said.

Despite his extensive aviation background, Kutryk explained that the forces and sensations of a rocket launch were different from anything he had experienced before.

He recalled the extraordinary moment when the spacecraft reached orbit, the crew completed their procedures and he was finally able to unbuckle his seatbelt and look out the window.

Seeing Earth moving below him was an experience he struggled to put into words.

“I just wish everyone could feel what that feels like to leave Earth,” he said.

Throughout the conference, Kutryk repeatedly expressed his pride in representing Canada aboard the International Space Station and the importance of the country’s continued involvement in space exploration.

He said Canada’s participation is about much more than simply placing a Canadian astronaut in orbit. It also creates opportunities for Canadian researchers, universities, industries and technology developers to contribute to advancements that could benefit future generations.

“That’s how we innovate. That’s how we develop new technologies,” Kutryk said.

He hopes Canadians will view the mission as an example of what the country can accomplish when it embraces ambitious goals and invests in innovation.

“The science is a big part of what we’re doing here,” he said, adding that he hopes Canadians will see the mission as a testament to what the country can achieve when it is bold in its vision and willing to take risks.

For Kutryk, whose journey began beneath the wide-open skies of rural Alberta, the experience has reinforced just how fortunate he feels to be part of the international effort.

As the conference drew to a close, he thanked Canadians for their continued interest and support.

“I am having a blast, but I hope people will see the bigger picture,” Kutryk said. “It is important for Canada to be here, we take a lot of benefits from these missions and it’s something that we hope we can continue Canada’s strong legacy in space going forward.”

Kutryk is expected to spend approximately six months aboard the International Space Station, with a busy schedule of scientific research and mission activities ahead.

He is also scheduled to participate in two spacewalks, on October 29 and November 5, alongside NASA astronaut Anil Menon. During the spacewalks, the astronauts are expected to install and deploy new solar arrays designed to provide additional electricity for the orbiting laboratory.

For the communities of Beauvallon, Myrnam, Two Hills and the surrounding area, Kutryk’s mission represents an extraordinary journey from the Alberta Prairies to the International Space Station — and a reminder that even the biggest dreams can begin in the smallest communities.