Canadian Astronauts Collateral Duties

Astronauts might perform similar duties, but they also get them in different combinations because they have different skills or specialties. Shuttle through all of their jobs by scrolling down or jumping from link to link!

	Duties for All Astronauts		Dave Williams
	Marc Garneau		Julie Payette
	Chris Hadfield		Bob Thirsk
	Steve MacLean		Bjarni Tryggvason

Duties for all astronauts

Working Out

Have you ever seen a flabby-looking astronaut? Never? That’s because all astronauts have to exercise and be healthy throughout their careers.

Down here on Earth, the CSA and all space agencies provide facilities like a gym where they can run, lift weights or play sports. Up in space, astronauts can use a stationary bike, treadmill, and other exercise equipment that are held down by bungee cords onboard the shuttle and Station.

Astronauts preparing for space walks need to do extra strength training for their hands and arms. Other astronauts who plan on staying for a long time on the Station have a very specific fitness routine that they have to follow in order to stay healthy and to understand the long-term effects of being in space.

Their fitness is checked regularly through an annual physical, bone mass index measurements, and strength and cardiovascular testing.

Doing Some "Groundwork"

Astronauts don’t spend all of their time in space. They have duties here on Earth! Not only do they have office work to complete, but they also participate in scientific research.

The CSA astronauts, engineers, and scientists share their experiences and information through the Youth Outreach Program. The goal of the program is to improve science knowledge in Canada and to inspire young people like you to think about careers in science and engineering!

They like to talk about the benefits of space, how we can use information about space and technology in the classroom, and what it’s like to work and live in microgravity. These speaking engagements take them across Canada to places where learning is the primary focus—like classrooms, science centres, museums and other youth organizations!

The astronauts’ "groundwork" is complemented by their individually assigned duties as you’ll see below!

Marc Garneau

In February 2001, Dr. Garneau retired as an active astronaut and was appointed Executive Vice President of the Canadian Space Agency. Dr. Garneau now works at the CSA headquarters in Saint-Hubert, Quebec and is also the CSA's main spokesperson.

Chris Hadfield

Colonel Chris Hadfield is assigned as a liaison officer and member of the Crew Test Support Team, responsible for ISS test activities, in Russia. He will be dividing his time between this work, training in Houston and outreach activities in Canada.

Steve MacLean

	Dr. Steve MacLean has a sharp eye for small details. He’s one of the developers of the Canadian Space Vision System (CSVS).
	The CSVS calculates information about the exact position and location of an object that’s constantly moving around in space with the help of the shuttle's TV camera.
	The information is "handy" for the Canadarm operator and the Mobile Servicing System.
	Steve is also a CAPCOM (short for Capsule Communicator). He is the voice the crew hears while in orbit. He does this from Mission Control in Houston. CAPCOMs have a lot of duties: working with the Flight Director, overseeing mission and payload operations, making decisions about safe flying, and deciding how and when to give the crew information.

Dave Williams

Dr. Dave Williams is the Head of NASA’s Space Life Science Directorate and the Scientific Authority within the Operational Space Medicine Program at the CSA.

Julie Payette

	CSA Chief Astronaut Since September 2000, Julie coordinates activities for the CSA astronauts and represents them.
	Julie is a member of NSERC (Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada) and is assigned as astronaut liaison to Germany.

Bob Thirsk

	You might call Dr. Bob Thirsk a hot designer.
	He works with groups that design and evaluate the Thermal Control System (TCS). The TCS makes sure that the experiments on the Space Station don’t get too hot or too cold.
	He also designs training sessions for research experiments for the Space Station.
	In Canada, he helps teams design educational projects for grade school children. Here are two of the projects: Use of space technology resources to study the threats to four endangered species; Comparing the growth of tomato plants that sprout from seeds that will fly aboard Marc Garneau’s upcoming mission to plants that get an infrared light and to regular tomato plants.
	Bob is also a CAPCOM (short for Capsule Communicator). He is the voice the crew hears while in orbit. He does this from Mission Control in Houston. CAPCOMs have a lot of duties: working with the Flight Director, overseeing mission and payload operations, making decisions about safe flying, and deciding how and when to give the crew information.

Bjarni Tryggvason

	This Canadian astronaut has two main jobs: computer software troubleshooter and scientific authority on the Microgravity Isolation Mount (MIM)—a “MADE IN CANADA” creation.
	He checks that all of the Shuttle’s computer software is working properly in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory at NASA. He runs many simulations of engine and system failures and makes sure that the software responds the way it’s supposed to.
	Bjarni is also the authority for the MIM. It uses magnetic levitation to reduce vibrations that might affect experiments that are taking place onboard a spacecraft.