Your guide to organizing a watch party for the Crew-13 mission launch
Celebrate the next Canadian to embark on a mission to the International Space Station!
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk will be the next Canadian to travel to the International Space Station as part of the Crew-13 mission. During Expedition 75, he will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations in orbit for approximately six months.
The CSA invites you to gather with others and join thousands of Canadians across the country to watch the launch of this mission.
Share your pride with fellow Canadians and find a public event in your area, such as at a science centre, museum, library or community centre, using our online map.
You can also organize your own viewing event at your school, at home or in your community using the tips and resources below.
Wherever you are, remember that the CSA will broadcast the launch live on its YouTube and Facebook pages. We invite you to follow the launch and take part in this milestone for Canada!
Date and time
The mission is scheduled to launch as soon as early October. The CSA will provide updates on this matter through its social media channels.
Important: The launch date remains subject to change. As with any crewed mission, the schedule may be adjusted depending on weather conditions.
The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, talks to Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen during a live Artemis II space-to-Earth connection hosted by CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk. (Credit: CSA)
Party checklist for science centres, museums, libraries and cities
Learn about the mission
- Follow the CSA on social media for all launch updates.
- Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for educators to learn about mission-related and other STEM and outreach opportunities.
- Browse our mission webpages to learn everything about the mission, including:
- the crew
- how astronauts live and work aboard the International Space Station
- the Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft
- the significance of Joshua Kutryk's mission patch
- the scientific research being conducted
- Consult our toolkits for educators for resources and activity ideas.
- Learn more about CSA astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk.
- Explore videos and photos from the mission.
Add your party to the CSA online map
Send the name of your organization, the city and province/territory where you are located, and a link to the event details to activitespubliques-publicactivities@asc-csa.gc.ca before .
Invite people, print visuals, and prepare a presentation
- Create and send invitations.
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Explore the CSA resources available:
- Mission photos and videos
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Printables:
- Mission poster (11X17 or 24X36)
- Infographics
- Photo of Joshua Kutryk (cardboard silhouette – life-size and mini version)
- Digital astronaut cutout
- Colouring sheets
- Speakers' kits
- Media information kit
Note: If you are interested in receiving promotional items and have not already requested them, please contact activitespubliques-publicactivities@asc-csa.gc.ca.
Reminder: No CSA expert will be available to talk about the mission around launch time or during the mission. For any other speaker requests, please fill out our online form.
Develop school programming or activities around the mission
Check out the section for schools and youth organizations below if you plan on developing school programming or mission activities for your visitors.
Watch the CSA live launch event
Join the Canadian launch event livestreamed on the CSA's Facebook account and YouTube channel (available in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation).
Show your Canadian pride and share photos
Take photos during your party and share them on social media! Don't forget to tag the CSA accounts.
Party checklist for schools and youth organizations
Learn about the mission
- Follow the CSA on social media for all launch updates.
- Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for educators to learn about mission-related and other STEM and outreach opportunities.
- Browse our mission webpages to learn everything about the mission, including:
- the crew
- how astronauts live and work aboard the International Space Station
- the Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft
- the significance of Joshua Kutryk's mission patch
- the scientific research being conducted
- Learn more about CSA astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk.
- Explore videos and photos from the mission.
- Explore Earth with your students through photos taken by astronauts aboard the Space Station – from the same point of view as Joshua! – and georeferenced on our interactive map.
Teach your students about Canada's role in the Crew-13 mission
- Make it a theme day and have your students come wearing their space pyjamas or a space costume – they could even build their own!
- Present the mission to your students using our ready-to-use speakers' kit.
- Select a video to show them as conversation starters or to introduce lessons.
- Set the mood with our playlists about space.
- Consult our mission activities, our toolkits and pages for educators and youth to organize fun learning activities and games. Here are some examples:
- Have your students take our online space quizzes or organize a game show for your students to learn about the International Space station.
- Encourage your students to play the online educational games Mission: Astronaut or Tomatosphere Adventure, where they can find Joshua Kutryk.
- With permission, upload your students' photos to our digital astronaut cutout to turn them into an astronaut; print the files to decorate your classroom.
- Organize a school-wide activity to create a time capsule that will be opened the next time a CSA astronaut is assigned to a space mission.
Decorate your classroom
- Use your students' space-themed arts and crafts or our colouring sheets, printable mission poster (11X17 or 24X36), photos, spacesuit poster, infographics or any other space-themed decorations.
- Create a photo booth using your decorations, posters as well as a mini-printable Joshua 2D (printables).
- Prepare a reading corner for your students where they can read books from our space reading list.
- If allowed by your school, have some theme-based snacks on launch day such as rocket cookies or rocket fruit skewers, star-shaped fruits and veggies, Swiss cheese Moon. Take the opportunity to talk to your students about space food and the Canadian items on Joshua Kutryk's menu and even show them some of our food videos!
Watch the CSA live launch event
Depending on the time of the launch, join the Canadian launch event livestreamed on the CSA's Facebook account and YouTube channel with your class or have a "replay party" in class the next morning to celebrate the launch (available in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation).
Show your Canadian pride and share photos
Take photos during your party and share them on social media! Don't forget to tag the CSA on social media.
Have your students draw a highlight of the launch or the mission or something that makes them proud about it, and mail them to CSA headquarters. Some of the drawings could be featured on our social media accounts!
Party checklist for gatherings of family and friends
Learn about the mission
- Follow the CSA on social media for all launch updates.
- Browse our mission webpages to learn everything about the mission, including:
- the crew
- how astronauts live and work aboard the International Space Station
- the Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft
- the significance of Joshua Kutryk's mission patch
- the scientific research being conducted
- Learn more about CSA astronaut Colonel Joshua Kutryk.
- Explore videos and photos from the mission.
Create invitations
- Create invitations to send to your guests.
- Encourage your guests to come wearing their space pyjamas if the launch takes place at night or space costumes – they can even build their own!
Decorate and prepare snacks
- Prepare theme-based snacks such as rocket cookies or rocket fruit skewers, star-shaped fruits and veggies, Swiss cheese Moon. Be creative! You can also plan a full meal inspired by space food and the Canadian items on Joshua Kutryk's menu!
- Put up our printable mission poster [11×17 or 24×36], photos, spacesuit poster, infographics or space decorations.
- Create a photo booth using your decorations as well as printable Joshua Kutryk 2D and digital astronaut cutout.
- Prepare a reading corner for your young guests where they can read books from our space reading list.
Prepare games and entertainment
- Set the mood with our playlists about space.
- Present the mission to your guests using our ready-to-use speakers' kit.
- Show the mission overview video before the CSA livestream to inspire your guests and put them in the mood.
- Entertain your guests with our online space quizzes or organize a game show about the International Space Station.
- Become a crewmember by uploading your photo and those of your guests to our digital astronaut cutout (you can also do it ahead of time and use printouts of your guests to decorate your home).
- Consult our mission activities, our toolkits and pages for educators and youth.
After the launch
- Encourage your guests to stay up to date on the mission by following the CSA on social media.
- Watch the International Space Station live as it orbits Earth.
- Learn how to spot the International Space Station in the sky above your area.
Watch the CSA live launch event
At your party, join Canadians across the country by showing the Canadian launch event livestreamed on the CSA's Facebook account and YouTube channel (in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation).
Show your Canadian pride and share photos
Take photos during your party and share them on social media! Don't forget to tag the CSA on social media.