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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.