Two Canadians in Space

It took six tries, but space shuttle Endeavour finally launched last week and has made it to the International Space Station (ISS). On board is Canadian astronaut Julie Payette, on her second trip to the ISS. As a flight engineer, Julie Payette was part of the cockpit crew flying the shuttle and docking it to the ISS. She is also responsible for operating three robotic arms during this space mission: the shuttle's Canadarm, the ISS Canadarm 2, and a Japanese robotic arm on the ISS Japanese Laboratory Kibo.

For the first time, there are now two Canadians in space. Julie Payette joined Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk, who has been on an extended stay on the ISS since May. Only a few other countries have had more than one astronaut in space at the same time: the United States, Russia, China, Italy and Germany. This space mission marks a couple of other firsts as well. It is the first time there are more than 10 astronauts in space at the same time. It is also the first time that astronauts from all five partners that built the ISS (the United States, Canada, Russia, Japan and Europe) are on the ISS at the same time.

Photo: Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette
Sion Touhig / Getty Images

More on Canada in Space
Bob Thirsk Arrives at the International Space Station
Dave Williams Sets Canadian Records in Space
Canadian Space Program
Canadian Astronauts