Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk to speak at Calgary’s Telus Spark

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk throws out the ceremonial before a baseball game between the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

A member of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is landing at Calgary’s Telus Spark for a feature talk on the future of space travel.

Col. Joshua Kutryk is set to appear at the science centre on May 24 for a speech and live question-and-answer period.

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The all-ages event will take place inside the feature gallery, officials said, adding that seating is limited to 700 people.

Kutryk is currently assigned to NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, which will see him live and work on the International Space Station for six months.

He will be the first Canadian astronaut to fly as part of NASA’s commercial crew program.

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Officials say the speaking event is part of a larger space-themed day at Telus Spark that will also include a live Mission Moon planetarium show, Space Explorers: The ISS Experience in the Infinity Dome as well as other events designed for families and children to explore life beyond the stars.

Born in Fort Saskatchewan and raised on a cattle farm in eastern Alberta, Kutryk is one of four active CSA astronauts.

He began his career as a CF-18 fighter pilot with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, where he flew missions in support of NATO, UN and NORAD commitments as well as being stationed in Libya and Afghanistan.

Doors open for Kutryk’s presentation at 10:50 a.m. It runs for about an hour.

Telus Spark says there will be no meet-and-greet or autograph session.