Canada played an important role in space exploration. With the talents of individuals, they achieved exceptional achievements. Astronauts of Canada have played a very important role in humanity’s understanding of space or helped them lead to innovations in the field of space and science. This article focuses on the achievements and contributions of Canadian astronauts in space exploration.
List of Canadian Astronauts
Below is the list of Canadian Astronauts with mission name.
|
SL No. |
Astronaut |
Missions |
Group |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Roberta Lynn Bondar |
STS-42 |
1983 NRC Group |
|
2. |
Marc Garneau |
|
|
|
3. |
Chris Hadfield |
|
|
|
4. |
Jeremy Hansen |
Artemis 2 |
|
|
5. |
Steve MacLean |
|
|
|
6. |
Michael McKay |
None |
1992 CSA Group |
|
7. |
Ken Money |
None |
1983 NRC Group |
|
8. |
Julie Payette |
|
|
|
9. |
David Saint-Jacques |
Soyuz MS-11 (Expedition 58/59) |
|
|
10. |
Jenni Sidey-Gibbons |
Artemis II (backup astronaut) |
|
|
11. |
Robert Thirsk |
|
|
|
12. |
Bjarni Tryggvason |
STS-85 |
|
|
13. |
Dafydd Williams |
|
|
Also Read
Details about Canadian Astronauts
Roberta Lynn Bondar
- He was a Neurologist scientist.
- He was inducted on October 1, 2011, at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto.
- The first astronaut to receive a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and he was one of the first six members of the Canadian Astronaut Corps selected in 1983.
|
Name |
DOB |
Subjects Of Study |
|---|---|---|
|
Roberta Lynn Bondar |
December 4, 1945 (age 78) |
microgravity |
Marc Garneau
- He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from (January to October) periods in 2021.
- He was received as an honor minister of transport from November 2015 to January 2021.
- He was an MP in Westmount, Montreal form 15 years.
- He was selected NRC Group in 1983 and NASA Group 14 in 1992 for different missions like STS-41-G, STS-77, and STS-97.
|
Name |
DOB |
Subject of study |
|---|---|---|
|
Marc Garneau |
February 23, 1949 (age 75 |
Science & Tech |
Chris Hadfield
- He is the only Canadian to have received both a military (2001) and civilian Meritorious Service Cross (2013).
- He was also received NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2002.
- The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
- It was NASA’s second space shuttle mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir in April 2001, Hadfield served as mission specialist 1 on STS-100, International Space Station (ISS) assembly Flight 6A.
|
Name |
DOB |
Subject of study |
|---|---|---|
|
Chris Hadfield |
August 29, 1959, (age 64) |
Science & Tech |
Jeremy Hansen
- He received the Gold Medal of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
- He also worked in the Canadian Forces Decoration for about 12 years of service.
- He was also Awarded Canadian Air Force Pilot wings (May 2002).
- He was selected in CSA Group (2009), and NASA Group 20 (2009) for the missions Artemis 2.
|
Name |
DOB |
Awards |
|---|---|---|
|
Jeremy Hansen |
January 27, 1976 |
Canadian Forces’ Decoration (2006) |
Steve MacLean
- He received an honorary doctorate from the Collège Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean in Quebec, York University, and Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 1994.
- He was the chief science advisor for the International Space Station from 1993 to 1994.
- He was an honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
- He was selected for NRC Group (1983), NASA Group 16 (1996) for mission STS-52, STS-115.
|
Name |
DOB |
Time in space |
|---|---|---|
|
Steve MacLean |
December 14, 1954 (age 69) |
21d 16h 2m |
Michael McKay
- He is a Canadian astronaut candidate.
- He was selected in the initial round of four Canadian astronauts in 1992.
- He worked as an engineer payload specialist on the ground but did not eventually fly into space.
- In October 1997, Major McKay left the Canadian Space Agency to return to active military service with the Directorate of Space Development within the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
|
Name |
DOB |
occupation |
|---|---|---|
|
Michael McKay |
May 10,1963 |
NRC/CSA astronaut |
Ken Money
- He was awarded to the Meritorious Service Cross by the Governor General of Canada for any he received many contributions to science and technology in 1994.
- He was also a member of the volunteer Board of Governors of the National Space Society, a non-profit space advocacy group founded by Wernher von Braun.
- He was selected 1983 NRC Group.
|
Name |
DOB |
Occupation |
|---|---|---|
|
Ken Money |
January 4, 1935 |
Scientist |
Julie Payette
- She was the 29th Governor General of Canada.
- She received medals in the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. She was also received medals in Canadian Forces’ Decoration on 28 September 2017.
- She was selected in The NASA Space Flight Medal on June 6, 1999.
- NASA Exceptional Service Medal on June 25, 2010.
- She has a total of 28 honorary doctorates.
- She was selected in CSA Group (1992), and NASA Group 16 (1996) for missions STS-96, and STS-127.
|
Name |
DOB |
Time in space |
|---|---|---|
|
Julie Payette |
October 20, 1963 (age 60) |
25d 11h 57m |
David Saint Jacques
- He was a Gold Medalist in the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
- He was Special distinction from the Collège des médecins du Québec.
- He received the honors of Officer of the Order of Canada in (2022).
- He was selected for the 2009 CSA Group, NASA Group 20 (2009) for the mission Soyuz MS-11 (Expedition 58/59).
|
Name |
DOB |
Time in space |
|---|---|---|
|
David Saint-Jacques |
January 6, 1970 (age 54) |
203d 15h 16m |
Jenni Gibbons
- She graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Engineering with a degree in mechanical engineering.
- She was selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
- She was one of the two members of the 2017 CSA Group alongside Joshua Kutryk.
- She was selected in groups CSA Group (2017), and NASA Group 22 (2017) for the missions Artemis II (backup astronaut).
|
Name |
DOB |
Subject of study |
|---|---|---|
|
Jenni Gibbons |
3 August 1988 (age 35) |
Space career |
Robert Thirsk
- He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal.
- He also the “For Merit in Space Exploration” medal.
- He received one star in the NASA Space Flight Medal.
- He became an officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 2013.
- He was selected in NRC Group (1983), and NASA Group 17 (1998) for STS-78 Soyuz TMA-15 (Expedition 20/21).
|
Name |
DOB |
Time in space |
|---|---|---|
|
Robert Thirsk. |
August 17, 1953 (age 70) |
204d 18h 29m |
Bjarni Tryggvason
- He was a member of the Canadian Aeronautics and also in Space Institute.
- In 1998, he received an honorary D.Sc. degree from the University of Western Ontario.
- They were awarded in the year 2000 from the University of Iceland.
- He was also selected in 1983 from NRC Group, and NASA Group 17 (1998) for the missions STS-85.
|
Name |
DOB |
Time in space |
|---|---|---|
|
Bjarni Tryggvason |
September 21, 1945 |
11d 20h 28m |
Dafydd Williams
- He received an honorary doctorate from the College Militaire Royal de Saint-Jean in Quebec, York University, in 1994, and Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
- He received many medals during his career and many achievements.
- He was a member of the International Space Station during periods (1993 to 1994) from the post of the chief science advisor.
- He was also an honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
- He was selected for NRC Group (1983), NASA Group 16 (1996) for mission STS-52, STS-115.
|
Name |
DOB |
Time in space |
|---|---|---|
|
Dafydd Williams |
May 16, 1954 (age 69) |
28d 15h 47m |
Conclusion
Looking forward, we are expecting more input from Canadian astronauts in the future. With Canada’s continuous investment in space technology and its commitment to international partnerships, Canadian astronauts are about to take even more inspiring missions. This may include including lunar exploration and the eventual journey to Mars. Canada embarks on these new frontiers. Astronauts of Canada will continue to inspire future generations.
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List of Canadian Astronauts – FAQs
How many Canadian astronauts have been to space?
Total 9 Canadian astronauts have gone to space.
Who was the first Canadian astronaut in space?
Marc Garneau holds the first Canadian astronaut in space from October 1984.
Who was the first Canadian woman in space?
Roberta Bondar became the first Canadian woman to travel in space from January 1992.
How are Canadian astronauts selected?
Canadian astronauts are selected through a rigorous process managed by the Canadian Space Agency. Candidates typically have backgrounds in science, engineering, or medicine, along with extensive experience and skills relevant to space exploration.
What kind of training do Canadian astronauts undergo?
Canadian astronauts undergo comprehensive training that includes physical fitness, spacecraft operation, scientific experiments, survival skills, and international cooperation.