Updated: 05/08/11
About Marc Garneau:
In 1984 Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. During his 15 years as a Canadian astronaut, Marc Garneau flew on three space missions and logged over 677 hours in space. Marc Garneau remained a passionate advocate for space exploration and a strong educator in his role as President of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005. Marc Garneau resigned from the Space Agency to run as a Liberal candidate in the 2006 election in which he was defeated. He tried again in the 2008 federal election and won in the Montreal riding of Westmount - Ville-Marie. He was re-elected in 2011.
Marc Garneau Space Missions:
- Payload Specialist on Space Mission STS-41G - Space Shuttle Challenger - October 5-13, 1984
- Mission Specialist on Space Mission STS-77 - Space Shuttle Endeavour - May 19-29, 1996
- Mission Specialist on Space Mission STS-97 - Space Shuttle Endeavour - November 30 - December 11, 2000
Birth:
February 23, 1949 in Quebec City
Education:
- BSC in Engineering Physics - Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
- PhD in Electrical Engineering - Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, England
- Canadian Forces Command and Staff College - Toronto, Ontario
Professions:
- Engineer
- Naval officer
- Astronaut
- President of the Canadian Space Agency
Naval Career of Marc Garneau:
- Marc Garneau began his navy career in 1974.
- As an electrical engineer in the Navy, Marc Garneau worked on naval communications and combat systems.
- Marc Garneau was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1982.
- In 1984, he was seconded from the Navy to begin training as an astronaut.
- Marc Garneau was promoted to Captain in 1986.
- He retired from the Navy in 1989.
Marc Garneau the Astronaut:
- In 1983, Marc Garneau was one of six Canadians chosen to be the first Canadian astronauts.
- Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space when he flew as a payload specialist on the Challenger space shuttle in 1984.
- In 1996, Marc Garneau flew as a mission specialist on the space shuttle Endeavour.
- On his third space mission in 2000, Marc Garneau was a mission specialist and flight engineer on the Endeavour as it provided new power supplies to the International Space Station.
Marc Garneau, Space Agency Executive:
- Marc Garneau was appointed executive vice-president of the Canadian Space Agency early in 2001.
- Later in 2001 Marc Garneau became president of the Canadian Space Agency.
- Marc Garneau resigned from the Canadian Space Agency in 2005 to run as a Liberal candidate in the 2006 general election.
Marc Garneau, Politician:
- Marc Garneau was defeated as a candidate in the 2006 federal election.
- He ran again in the 2008 federal election and was elected as the member of parliament for the Montreal riding of Westmount - Ville-Marie.
- Marc Garneau was re-elected in the 2011 federal election.
