Canadian Astronaut Program

Canadian Astronaut Program

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The Canadian Space Program is also administered by the Canadian Space Agency. Canada has contributed technology, expertise and personnel to the world space effort, especially in collaboration with NASA and the ESA.

In addition to its astronauts, some of the most notable Canadian technological contributions to space exploration are the Canadarm (on the Space Shuttle) and the Canadarm2 and the rest of the Mobile Servicing System (on the International Space Station). The Canadarm and Canadarm2 are assisted by the Advanced Space Vision System allowing more efficient use of the robotic arms. They also created the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, which is an extension of the Canadarm used to inspect the Space Shuttle's thermal Protection System for damage while in orbit.

Canadians in Space

Eight Canadians have participated on 11 NASA manned missions to date:

Name	Shuttle	Mission	Launch date	Notes
Marc Garneau	Challenger	STS-41-G	October 5, 1984	First Canadian in space
Roberta Bondar	Discovery	STS-42	January 22, 1992	First Canadian woman in space
Steven MacLean	Columbia	STS-52	October 22, 1992
Chris Hadfield	Atlantis	STS-74	November 12, 1995	Only Canadian to visit Mir
Marc Garneau	Endeavour	STS-77	May 19, 1996
Robert Thirsk	Columbia	STS-78	June 20, 1996
Bjarni Tryggvason	Discovery	STS-85	August 7, 1997
Dafydd Williams	Columbia	STS-90	April 17, 1998
Julie Payette	Discovery	STS-96	May 27, 1999	First Canadian to visit the ISS
Marc Garneau	Endeavour	STS-97	November 30, 2000	ISS mission
Chris Hadfield	Endeavour	STS-100	April 19, 2001	First spacewalk by a Canadian
Steven MacLean	Atlantis	STS-115	~August 28, 2006
Dafydd Williams	Endeavour (?)	STS-118	~March 15, 2007

Published on: 2004-08-05 (15379 reads)

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