Thirsk – Canadian space record breaker home
Home after six months in space.
By Karen Mullins
TORONTO – Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk is home after a six-month stay on the International Space Station.
Thirsk – a Canadian space pioneer – has many firsts on his record.
He is the first Canadian to stay on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft launched on May 27, 2009.
He also holds the Canadian record for the longest space flight. During his time at the space station he logged over 125 million kilometres of travel.
During his time at the space station Thirsk conducted 236 hours of scientific research.
“I am proud and privileged to be part of this historic moment when a prominent figure of the Canadian Space Program returns home after such a remarkable achievement,” said Steve MacLean, of the Canadian Space Agency.
“With modern explorers like Thirsk, we are proving to the world that Canada has a place amongst the leaders in human space exploration, science and technology,” MacLean added.
“Canadians and our Canadian space industry will without a doubt, benefit from this unique and record-breaking experience,” he said.
Thirsk has been with CSA since 1983. He was in the family medicine residency program at Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital prior to that.
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Posted by Karen J. Mullins
on Jan 19 2010. Filed under Sci-Tech.
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