Astronauts | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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  • Article

    Canadian Astronauts

    An astronaut is an individual involved in flight beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Since the National Research Council of Canada held its first recruitment campaign in 1983, 14 Canadians have completed astronaut training and nine have participated in 17 missions to space. Specifically, they have flown as payload specialists, mission specialists, and flight engineers on NASA shuttle flights and expeditions to the International Space Station (ISS). Canadian astronauts have played key roles in repairing satellites and building the ISS using the Canadarm and Canadarm2 robotic technologies, and have advanced scientific knowledge by conducting a variety of experiments in space. (See also Robotics in Canada; Space Technology.)

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/Twitter_Cards/David Saint Jacques.jpg Canadian Astronauts

  • Article

    Bjarni Tryggvason

    Bjarni Valdimar Tryggvason, engineer, pilot, astronaut, scientist, educator (born 21 September 1945 in Reykjavik, Iceland; died 5 April 2022 in London, ON). Bjarni Tryggvason was one of the original six Canadian astronauts selected by the National Research Council in 1983. (See also Canadian Space Agency.) In 1997, he participated in the STS-85 mission and flew aboard NASA’s Discovery space shuttle. He was an associate member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the recipient of numerous awards and honours throughout his career.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/bjarnitryggvason/bjarnitryggvasonportrait.jpg Bjarni Tryggvason

  • List

    Canadians in Space

    In 1983, the National Research Council of Canada created the Canadian Astronaut Program (now run by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)). Since the first recruitment campaign in 1983, 14 Canadians have completed astronaut training and 9 have participated in missions to space (see Canadian Astronauts). A minority of Canadians have joined orbital or suborbital flights as citizen-astronauts or space tourists. The following list includes information about Canadians who have travelled to space as astronauts, citizen-astronauts or space tourists.

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  • Article

    Chris Hadfield

    Chris Austin Hadfield, OC, OOnt, astronaut, military test pilot (born 29 August 1959 in Sarnia, ON). After a distinguished career as a test pilot, Hadfield became an astronaut in 1992. Over the course of his career, he achieved a series of Canadian firsts: he was the first Canadian to be a space mission specialist, to operate the Canadarm in orbit, to do a spacewalk and to command the International Space Station. He was also the first to record a music video in space — a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” — adding to his celebrity status. Hadfield retired from the Canadian Astronaut Corps in July 2013. In 2014, he began teaching in the University of Waterloo’s aviation program.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/8c4f0ff8-36dc-409a-91c5-4728ae22faed.jpg Chris Hadfield

  • Macleans

    Chris Hadfield in conversation with Charlie Gillis

    The view from a million feet away, his love for two frozen nations—and his fear of heightsThis article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on October 14, 2013

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    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Chris Hadfield in conversation with Charlie Gillis

  • Article

    Dave Williams

    Dafydd (Dave) Rhys Williams, OC, OOnt, astronaut, aquanaut, scientist, pilot, physician, author (born 16 May 1954 in Saskatoon, SK). Dr. Dave Williams was a mission specialist on two NASA space shuttle missions and an aquanaut participating in undersea research. As a medical doctor and an astronaut, he contributed to vital life-science experiments focused on the effects of microgravity on the human brain and nervous system. (See also Canadian Space Agency.) He has served as a senior administrative officer at numerous medical institutions.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/davewilliams/davewiliams.jpg Dave Williams

  • Macleans

    Dave Williams (Profile)

    This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on April 13, 1998. Partner content is not updated.

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  • Article

    David Saint-Jacques

    David Saint-Jacques, OC, OQ, astronaut, engineer, astrophysicist, medical doctor (born 6 January 1970, in Québec City, QC). Early in his career, Saint-Jacques contributed to advances in telescope technology in Japan and Hawaii, and medical technology at Lariboisière Hospital in Paris. (See also Astronomy; Medical Research; Technology in Canada.) He also worked as a doctor and co-chief of medicine at the Inuulitsivik Health Centre in Puvirnituq, Nunavik. In 2009, he was chosen by the Canadian Space Agency to become an astronaut. In 2018, he served on the International Space Station for 204 days, longer than any other Canadian astronaut.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/davidsaintjacques/David_Saint_Jacques_Socialsize.jpg David Saint-Jacques

  • Macleans

    Hadfield Prepares for Space

    As a boy growing up on his father's farm just west of Toronto, nine-year-old Chris Hadfield was so spellbound by Neil Armstrong's historic moon walk on July 20, 1969, that he promptly decided to become an astronaut himself.This article was originally published in Maclean's Magazine on November 20, 1995

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  • Article

    Jenni Gibbons

    Jennifer “Jenni” Anne MacKinnon Gibbons (née Sidey, formerly went by Jenni Sidey-Gibbons), astronaut, engineer, professor (born 3 August 1988 in Calgary, AB). In 2017, Jenni Gibbons was selected as an astronaut candidate by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). After completing her astronaut training, she became Canada’s third female astronaut. In 2023, it was announced that Gibbons would serve as Jeremy Hansen’s backup on the Artemis II lunar mission. Prior to becoming an astronaut, Gibbons was a professor of engineering, specializing in combustion.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/canadianastronauts/jennigibbons.jpg Jenni Gibbons

  • Article

    Jeremy Hansen

    Jeremy Roger Hansen, astronaut, cavenaut, aquanaut, fighter pilot, physicist (born 27 January 1976 in London, ON). Following outstanding service as an air force pilot, Hansen was selected to join the Canadian astronaut corps in 2009 (see Royal Canadian Air Force; Canadian Space Agency). He will serve as a mission specialist on the Artemis II flight scheduled to circle the moon no earlier than September 2025. As a member of the crew, he will be the first Canadian and the first non-American to fly to the moon.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/jeremyhansen/jeremyhansen.jpg Jeremy Hansen

  • Article

    Joshua Kutryk

    Joshua Peter Kutryk, astronaut, fighter pilot, engineer (born 21 March 1982 in Fort Saskatchewan, AB). Colonel Kutryk is an active member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and has served as a test pilot and fighter pilot. In 2017, Kutryk was chosen by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for astronaut training and in 2020 he officially became a Canadian astronaut. No earlier than the beginning of 2025, he will serve on Starliner-1, a six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/joshuakutryk/joshuakutryk.jpg Joshua Kutryk

  • Article

    Julie Payette

    Julie Payette, CC, CMM, COM, CQ, CD, astronaut, engineer, jet pilot, musician (born 20 October 1963 in Montréal, QC). Julie Payette is the first Canadian astronaut to board the International Space Station, which she went to twice (1999, 2009). She served as the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency from 2000 to 2007. From 2013 to 2016, she was chief operating officer for the Montreal Science Centre and vice president of the Canada Lands Company. An accomplished scientific authority, musician and athlete, Payette is a board member of Own the Podium and a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s board of directors. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recommended Payette as Canada’s 29th Governor General. She served in the role from 2 October 2017 until 21 January 2021, when she resigned following allegations that she was abusive toward her staff.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/media/media/f7e4b5b6-1a3d-4fc5-bb89-b1b884d67052.jpg Julie Payette

  • Macleans

    Julie Payette (Profile)

    This article was originally published in Maclean’s magazine on May 17, 1999. Partner content is not updated. Things just hit home big time when I flew a Dash-4 over the pad this evening at Kennedy Space Center. There it was - Discovery, all of white shining under the late afternoon sun. I just couldn't believe my eyes.

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    https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/images/tce_placeholder.jpg?v=e9dca980c9bdb3aa11e832e7ea94f5d9 Julie Payette (Profile)

  • Article

    Ken Money

    Kenneth Eric Money, astronaut, air force pilot, physiologist, inventor, lecturer, author, Olympic athlete (born 4 January 1935 in Toronto, ON; died 6 March 2023 in Toronto, ON). Dr. Ken Money was one of the original six Canadians selected to join the Canadian astronaut corps in 1983 (see Canadian Space Agency). He was a pioneer in the study of the effects of space travel on the human body. He published many scientific articles and made contributions to the World Book Encyclopedia. In addition to his extensive research contributions, Money distinguished himself as an athlete and competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics.

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    https://d3d0lqu00lnqvz.cloudfront.net/kenmoney/kenmoney.jpg Ken Money