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Canadian space program

Canada has contributed technology, expertise and personnel to the world space effort, especially in collaboration with NASA and the ESA.

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
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
Marc Garneau Endeavour STS-97 November 30, 2000
Chris Hadfield Endeavour STS-100 April 19, 2001 First spacewalk by a Canadian

Owing to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, two further shuttle flights (Steve MacLean in May 2003 and Dave Williams in November 2003) have been put on hold. Two Canadian experiments were destroyed in the loss of Columbia.

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 Canadaarm2 and the rest of the Mobile Servicing System (on the International Space Station). The Canadaarm and Canadaarm2 are assisted by the Advanced Space Vision System allowing more efficent use of the robotic arms.

Canadian satellites:

Canada's space program is administered by the Canadian Space Agency. The current president of the CSA is Marc Garneau.

Last updated: 10-18-2005 06:21:14
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