On December 3, David Saint-Jacques will launch with two crewmates from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Russian Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station. David will spend six months aboard the Station as part of the ‘C3’ expedition, Canada’s third long-duration mission. Preparation for an ISS expedition is a significant undertaking requiring the […]
International Space Station
Returning Home in Soyuz – a Wild, Wild Ride
A second edition of the book ‘The Farthest Shore: A 21st Century Guide to Space’ has just been published by Apogee Books (a Canadian publisher). http://www.cgpublishing.com/ The original book was a paperback that served as a textbook for the students of International Space University. It covered all aspects of space exploration and development. The new […]
International Space University’s Space Studies Program: a path to a career in space
Congratulations to Maliyat and TJ for determining that I was in Cork, Ireland earlier this month to participate in International Space University (ISU)’s Space Studies Program (SSP). I’ll put signed photos in the mail for both of you. My visit to Cork was brief but I did have the opportunity to deliver a lecture, adjudicate […]
Adaption to change – in space and on earth
Todd Hirsch and Rob Roach of ATB Financial are co-authors of a new book entitled Spiders in Space: Successfully Adapting to Unwanted Change. What an intriguing title! The book profiles several Canadian individuals, organizations and businesses who have successfully adapted to change. Drawing on inspiring stories and lessons learned, the book provides insight on how […]
Canadian talent shines at prestigious literary awards
Last week I attended the presentation of the Governor General’s Literary Awards. This ceremony, held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, is an annual event that celebrates the best in Canadian literature. Administered by the Canada Council for the Arts, the GGLAs are Canada’s oldest and most prestigious literary awards. His Excellency the Right Honourable David […]
Golden records may someday communicate with extraterrestrials
Since their launches in 1977, NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft have captured my interest. The Voyager missions gave us stunning, close-up views of the outer planets and provided insights about phenomena at the edge of our solar system. Voyager 1 left the solar system in 2013 and is now interstellar, speeding outward through empty […]
UCalgary engineer assesses bone strength in astronauts
I was at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston earlier this month for my annual medical exam. This exam is part of the Longitudinal Study on Astronaut Health, an occupational surveillance program for former astronauts (see my earlier blog about this proactive medical surveillance program.) In addition to the usual physical exam and laboratory […]
Once an astronaut, always an astronaut
Although I retired as an astronaut several years ago, I remain engaged with the Canadian Space Agency. Human spaceflight is my passion and I continue to do whatever I can to advance Canada’s role in space exploration. I suppose ‘once an astronaut, always an astronaut’. I spent two days in Houston last week participating in […]
The trajectory to professional and personal success is not always straight and smooth
Last Friday afternoon, three of my colleagues launched from Kazakhstan aboard a Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station. The launch was successful and their capsule rendezvoused and docked to the Station in the late evening. Amongst the crew was cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin of the Russian Space Agency. This was Alexey’s first spaceflight following several […]
Good bye, Mr. Nimoy. Thanks for sharing Mr. Spock with us.
I read that Leonard Nimoy died yesterday. How sad. He was a great actor and person. The media today is full of stories of Nimoy’s death and of his life achievements. Nimoy’s passing caused me to reflect on the Star Trek TV and movie series. I am a great fan and have always been enamored […]