Laying the groundwork for the deployment of Canadian robots on other planets and figuring out how to help people adapt to extreme environments are among the things Bob Thirsk will do now that he’s aboard the International Space Station.
The 55-year-old Canadian astronaut was welcomed with bear hugs and smiles when he and two other space travellers arrived at the gigantic orbiting laboratory on Friday.
“It is an historic day,” Mr. Thirsk told Steve MacLean, the head of the Canadian Space Agency, during a communications link-up with Earth. “It’s also a very happy day up here.
“You can’t imagine the state of elation that the six of us have right now.”
During the six months he’ll spend in space, Mr. Thirsk will participate in a York University experiment that will help people who have trouble telling up from down.
Astronauts and others who find themselves in unusual extreme environments, or who have certain medical disorders, have difficulty orienting themselves and the experiment is aimed at helping them avoid life-threatening errors.
Mr. Thirsk, who arrived aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, will also operate a little rover-type vehicle nicknamed “Red” by remote control from space.
The robot, the size of a thick suitcase, is parked and waiting for his commands in a back lot of the Canadian Space Agency, south of Montreal.
The research will eventually lead to the operation of robots on other planets, either from a ground station located on Earth or from a spacecraft out in space.
The Russian space ferry carrying Mr. Thirsk, Russia’s Roman Romanenko and Belgium’s Frank De Winne linked up with the space station above the China coast after lifting off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days earlier.
Mr. Thirsk’s stint will be the longest period a Canadian astronaut has ever spent in space.
The three newest arrivals boost the space station to a full staff of six for the first time in its 10-year history.
“Amongst partners that have a passion for exploration, a proven track record in innovation, and a desire to gain new knowledge, we’ve got an incredible potential for success,” Mr. Thirsk said Friday from space. “This is going to be something incredible.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” the native of New Westminster, B.C. said, adding, “Thank you, Canada.”
Mr. MacLean, a former astronaut, recalls that, as “good buddies” for eight years, he and Mr. Thirsk talked a lot about what it would be like when their turn in space finally came.
“We’ve probably spent more hours talking about space than the amount of time we’ve been up there,” he said in an interview.
“We started in this 25 years ago,” Mr. MacLean said, adding that Mr. Thirsk’s arrival was the culmination of a lot of work. “We were training together from 1984 to about 1992.”
Mr. MacLean spent a total of about two weeks orbiting the Earth during his two flights into space.
Canada was first invited to become a partner in the International Space Station in May, 1985.
“It’s taken from 1985 until today to get to the point where we have all the (five) international partners on (the) station at the same time,” Mr. MacLean added.
The combined crew, all men, now includes Mr.Thirsk, two Russians, one American, a Japanese and a Belgian.
Mr. Thirsk’s wife, Brenda Biasutti, who was on the ground at the Russian control centre near Moscow, also had a chance to speak briefly with her husband, wishing him good luck and telling him to have a good time.
Mr. Thirsk’s 81-year-old mother, Eva, even got in a few words.
“It looks good to see you there with all your friends,” she said. “Have a wonderful time and God bless.”
That prompted a response of “Thanks, mom.”
This is also the first time a Canadian has travelled aboard a Russian spacecraft. In the past, Canadians have hitched a ride aboard American space shuttles.
Mr. Thirsk will soon be joined by fellow Canadian Julie Payette. She is scheduled to blast off June 13 aboard the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour on a 16-day mission although that mission may be postponed until July because bad weather has delayed preparations.
When Ms. Payette goes into orbit, it will also be the first time Canada has had two astronauts in space at the same time.
The 55-year-old Canadian astronaut was welcomed with bear hugs and smiles when he and two other space travellers arrived at the gigantic orbiting laboratory on Friday.
“It is an historic day,” Mr. Thirsk told Steve MacLean, the head of the Canadian Space Agency, during a communications link-up with Earth. “It’s also a very happy day up here.
“You can’t imagine the state of elation that the six of us have right now.”
During the six months he’ll spend in space, Mr. Thirsk will participate in a York University experiment that will help people who have trouble telling up from down.
Astronauts and others who find themselves in unusual extreme environments, or who have certain medical disorders, have difficulty orienting themselves and the experiment is aimed at helping them avoid life-threatening errors.
Mr. Thirsk, who arrived aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, will also operate a little rover-type vehicle nicknamed “Red” by remote control from space.
The robot, the size of a thick suitcase, is parked and waiting for his commands in a back lot of the Canadian Space Agency, south of Montreal.
The research will eventually lead to the operation of robots on other planets, either from a ground station located on Earth or from a spacecraft out in space.
The Russian space ferry carrying Mr. Thirsk, Russia’s Roman Romanenko and Belgium’s Frank De Winne linked up with the space station above the China coast after lifting off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan two days earlier.
Mr. Thirsk’s stint will be the longest period a Canadian astronaut has ever spent in space.
The three newest arrivals boost the space station to a full staff of six for the first time in its 10-year history.
“Amongst partners that have a passion for exploration, a proven track record in innovation, and a desire to gain new knowledge, we’ve got an incredible potential for success,” Mr. Thirsk said Friday from space. “This is going to be something incredible.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” the native of New Westminster, B.C. said, adding, “Thank you, Canada.”
Mr. MacLean, a former astronaut, recalls that, as “good buddies” for eight years, he and Mr. Thirsk talked a lot about what it would be like when their turn in space finally came.
“We’ve probably spent more hours talking about space than the amount of time we’ve been up there,” he said in an interview.
“We started in this 25 years ago,” Mr. MacLean said, adding that Mr. Thirsk’s arrival was the culmination of a lot of work. “We were training together from 1984 to about 1992.”
Mr. MacLean spent a total of about two weeks orbiting the Earth during his two flights into space.
Canada was first invited to become a partner in the International Space Station in May, 1985.
“It’s taken from 1985 until today to get to the point where we have all the (five) international partners on (the) station at the same time,” Mr. MacLean added.
The combined crew, all men, now includes Mr.Thirsk, two Russians, one American, a Japanese and a Belgian.
Mr. Thirsk’s wife, Brenda Biasutti, who was on the ground at the Russian control centre near Moscow, also had a chance to speak briefly with her husband, wishing him good luck and telling him to have a good time.
Mr. Thirsk’s 81-year-old mother, Eva, even got in a few words.
“It looks good to see you there with all your friends,” she said. “Have a wonderful time and God bless.”
That prompted a response of “Thanks, mom.”
This is also the first time a Canadian has travelled aboard a Russian spacecraft. In the past, Canadians have hitched a ride aboard American space shuttles.
Mr. Thirsk will soon be joined by fellow Canadian Julie Payette. She is scheduled to blast off June 13 aboard the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour on a 16-day mission although that mission may be postponed until July because bad weather has delayed preparations.
When Ms. Payette goes into orbit, it will also be the first time Canada has had two astronauts in space at the same time.
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