Canada renews ISS commitment, two more Canadian Astronauts to fly before 2024
Former CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield opened a new exhibit at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, "Life in Orbit: The International Space Station". Photo Credit: Sean Costello / SpaceFlight Insider
Canadian Industry Minister James Moore was joined today by Canadian Space Agency (CSA ) Astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques as they together announced Canada’s commitment to fly two more Canadians to the International Space Station (ISS ) within the next decade. This recent announcement was heralded at an event which highlighted Canada’s aerospace efforts.
The announcement was one of many made during the June 2, 2015, event at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, where Commander Chris Hadfield helped open a new exhibit, “Life in Orbit: The International Space Station”, and a two-year funding commitment was also confirmed to extend the Canadian contributions to the ongoing Mars Science Laboratory mission, also known as the rover Curiosity.
In making today’s announcement, Canada became the third nation to sign on to continue supporting ISS operations through to 2024, following the United States and Russia.
From left-to-right Commander Chris Hadfield (Retired Canadian Astronaut), Lt. Col Jeremy Hansen (current Canadian Astronaut), Minister of Industry, Hon. James Moore and Dr. David Saint-Jacques (current Canadian Astronaut) describe the difficulty of EVA work as students experiment with vacuum environment simulators at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Photo Credit: Sean Costello / SpaceFlight Insider
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden welcomed Canada’s renewal, stating: “I am delighted that Canada has committed to extending its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) through 2024, and its support for other exciting initiatives with NASA in space and Earth Science including the James Webb Space Telescope and the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission.”
While the joint announcements did not include specific mission outlines or inferences as to which astronaut would fly first, today’s renewal of Canada’s participation in the ISS did come with a program commitment by the ISS-supporting nations to fly one Canadian Astronaut by 2019, and the second by 2024. Also outlined were four new Canadian science experiments to be conducted aboard the ISS, beginning in the fall 2015. The four studies were picked for their relevance to medical and health issues stemming from space travel, (the CSA’s top priority for ISS Science), and for the benefits they offer for life on Earth.
The announcement was made in front of a full crowd at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, in Ottawa, Ontario. Photo Credit: Sean Costello / SpaceFlight Insider
During the 90 minute mixed speaking and touring event, students from two Ottawa-area elementary schools got to work hands-on with Hadfield, Hansen, Saint-Jacques and Minister Moore as they toured the new interactive science exhibit at the national museum, to much delight of the youth.
Focused on educating visitors about the effects of working in space and living in the micro-gravity environment of the ISS, learning stations include a Canadarm2 simulated control station, a pair of work gloves and manual dexterity challenges that can be shifted from being in our natural atmospheric pressure to simulating the effect of working in the vacuum of space, and a seven-screened simulator of the famed ISS Cupola, considered by many astronauts to be their favorite place aboard the science outpost.
Following the formal presentations all speakers remained available for discussion and personal Q&A time, when many of those in attendance had their first opportunity to enjoy an up-and-close discussion with Minister Moore or an Astronaut of their choosing. One such lucky visitor was ten-year old Zachary Gazaille, visiting family in the National Capital Region from his home in Marietta, GA. When asked what he thought about having just had a chance to meet the legendary Chris Hadfield, his eyes lit up and he proudly flashed his freshly autographed notebook, which also included a note from Hansen. Asked what his plans were for the upcoming summer break, Gazaille and his Grand-Aunt Madeleine Pépin of Gatineau, Quebec, both smiled – “Museums. Lots and lots of museums.”
Canada joins the United States and Russia in planning continued support for the International Space Station. Photo Credit: Sean Costello / SpaceFlight Insider
Sean Costello
Sean Costello is a technology professional who also researches, writes about and speaks publicly on the inspiring lessons within international space flight program. Prior to joining SpaceFlight Insider in early 2014, Costello was a freelance photographer and correspondent covering shuttle-era Kennedy Space Center launches for various radio and print news organizations.
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