Astronaut Julie Payette about to double the Canadian content in Earth orbit

She will join countryman Bob Thirsk on the International Space Station

By Teresa Smith – Vancouver Sun – June 8, 2009

Canadian astronaut Julie Payette is gearing up to make history June 13, when she takes off to join fellow Canadian Bob Thirsk on the International Space Station. They will be the first two Canadians to be in space at the same time.

Payette, the mission’s flight engineer, will be part of the cockpit crew that navigates the shuttle Endeavour during flight and docks it to the space station on June 15. “We’re at the point now where everybody is gearing up to launch,” she said at recent news conference. “We’re looking forward to [our mission] and . . . finishing the construction of the International Space Station.” Payette, who lives and works in Houston, is in final training now, preparing to go into quarantine before the launch.

Marc Garneau, the first Canadian to go into space, said that Payette is undoubtedly very excited right now.

“It’s when you go into quarantine that you get the sense that your mission is imminent,” said Garneau. “All that training is coming to an end and now it’s time to execute the mission.

“The time goes by quickly, and in the last two or three days, you have a chance to see your family . . . to have some quiet time before the launch.” Payette will operate three robotic arms during the mission—the shuttle’s Canadarm, the station’s Canadarm2 and an arm on the Japanese laboratory, Kibo, located outside the station.

Astronauts will use Canadian robotic technology almost every day of the 16-day mission in order to finish building the station.

“We have a very visible presence on the ISS,” said Garneau, “Not just when we have people up there, but because of all the Canadian equipment, we’re visible even when we don’t have astronauts on board.” They are also continuing Garneau’s work. He installed the first solar panels on the space station in 2000 and part of Payette’s mission is to change the batteries that those panels charge. “The batteries have a limited lifetime,” Garneau said. “So, the fact that they need to be changed is an indication that the ISS has been up there for a while.” Benoit Marcotte, director general of operations for the Canadian Space Agency, said he is excited about Canada’s continuing role in the 25-year partnership. “The work on the ISS continues to be a great partnership in which Canada will continue to play a significant role,” he said.