Biography of canadian astronauts

Canadian Space Agency unit

The Canadian Astronaut Corps is a unit of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members for U.S.

and Russian space missions.^[1] The corps has four active members, able to serve on the International Space Station (ISS).

History

The original six astronauts selected in 1983 were under the auspices of the National Research Council of Canada.

They were transferred to the Canadian Space Agency when it was established in 1989.

Since 1984, when Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space, nine CSA astronauts have flown on US NASA Space Shuttles and on Russian Soyuz rockets in 15 missions.^[2][3]

In May 2009, Robert Thirsk flew to the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-month stay, thus becoming the first Canadian to stay aboard the ISS for an extended period.

On Decemder 1, 2009, after spending 188 days in space, Robert Thirsk returned t