, marks 20 years of continuous human presence on the International Space Station (ISS). This unique research laboratory is considered the one of the most ambitious international collaborations ever, allowing astronauts to test technologies and conduct scientific experiments that have positive impacts on our lives on Earth.
It is largely thanks to the ISS that the international space community is now setting its sights on deep-space destinations like the Moon and Mars. For 20 years, the ISS has been a vital part of space exploration: it serves as a test bed that enables us to prepare to explore deeper into space.
McGill has been well represented on the ISS, with four members of the University community having travelled to and worked onboard the ISS as astronauts. Before she became Canada’s current Governor General, Julie Payette made history as the first Canadian to board the ISS in 1999, 13 years after earning her bachelor of Engineering at McGill.
In 1996, Robert Thirsk (MD’82) became the first member of the McGill community in space, as a crew member aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia during a 16-day mission. In 2009, Thirsk returned to space on a 188-day mission aboard the ISS. During that mission, Thirsk was joined by Payette aboard the ISS, the latter’s second stint on the ISS.
One of Canada’s most experienced astronauts, Dafydd “Dave” Williams (BSc’76, MDCM’83, MSc’83, DSc’07), holds the Canadian record for the most spacewalks, with three for a total of just under 18 hours outside the Space Station during a 2007 mission.
In 2019, David Saint-Jacques joined Williams as only the second member of the McGill community to take part in a spacewalk as part of a a 204-day mission on board the ISS. During the mission, Saint-Jacques, an Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine at McGill, orbited the globe 3,264 times and covered a distance of 139,096,495 kilometres.
McGill could boast a fifth member of the ISS club. In January 2019, Jenni Sidey-Gibbons (BEng’11) graduated from astronaut candidate to full-fledged astronaut, making her eligible to be assigned to missions destined for the International Space Station and beyond.
To celebrate the ISS anniversary, the Canadian Space Agency created a photo gallery celebrating the ongoing adventures of Canadian astronauts aboard the ISS. Below, we feature some of the highest flying members of the McGill community.
Image 1 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
Canada's contribution is crucial to the success of the ISS. In August 2007, during Mission STS-118, CSA astronaut Dave Williams (right) set a Canadian record by spending almost 18 hours outside the ISS during three spacewalks, as part of the same mission. He is pictured here with NASA astronaut Alvin Drew.
Image 2 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
While anchored to the foot restraint on Canadarm2 during a spacewalk in August 2007, CSA astronaut Dave Williams removed a faulty control moment gyroscope (CMG) and installed a new CMG into one of the Station's trusses. The four CMGs on the ISS are used to control the Station's attitude in orbit.
Image 3 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
CSA astronauts Julie Payette, STS-127 mission specialist; and Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, are all smiles in the Destiny laboratory of the ISS in July 2009.
Image 4 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
In July 2009, CSA astronaut Bob Thirsk participated in the Bodies In the Space Environment (BISE) experiment. This Canadian experiment's purpose was to study how astronauts distinguish up from down in a near-weightless environment.
Image 5 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata and CSA astronaut Julie Payette at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic workstation in the Destiny laboratory of the ISS in July 2009.
Image 6 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
In July 2009, there were 13 people of five different nationalities in space at the same time. To mark this historic occasion, the astronauts from the Space Shuttle invited the astronauts from the ISS to dinner. Canadian appetizers and dishes were served. On the menu: salmon pâté from British Columbia, shrimp garlic noodles, Indian lentils and rice, beef jerky from Alberta, smoked salmon, fruit bars from Ontario, dark chocolate covered cranberries and, to top it all off, maple leaf cookies. This meal was planned, tested and packaged on Earth with the help of nutritionists from the CSA and NASA.
Image 7 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
In December 2018, at an altitude of about 400 km, CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques smiles for the camera with two Canadian symbols. During his mission, he became the fourth CSA astronaut to conduct a spacewalk and the first to use Canadarm2 to catch a visiting spacecraft. Together, he and his crewmates dedicated a record amount of time to science on the ISS.
Image 8 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
During his mission, David Saint-Jacques participated in seven Canadian scientific experiments. In this photo taken in January 2019, he is taking ultrasounds of his blood vessels for the Canadian study Vascular Echo. The findings of a previous experiment suggest that a daily exercise routine is not enough to counteract the effects of sedentariness caused by weightlessness on the body.
Image 9 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
David Saint-Jacques took this gorgeous photo of Newfoundland during his mission on board the ISS
Image 10 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
This photo of snowy Montreal was taken by David Saint-Jacques while aboard the ISS
Image 11 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
Epic selfie: David Saint-Jacques took part in his first spacewalk on April 8, 2019. He and NASAs astronaut Anne McClain performed a series of maintenance tasks on the exterior of the orbiting laboratory for 6 hours and 29 minutes.
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
Canada's contribution is crucial to the success of the ISS. In August 2007, during Mission STS-118, CSA astronaut Dave Williams (right) set a Canadian record by spending almost 18 hours outside the ISS during three spacewalks, as part of the same mission. He is pictured here with NASA astronaut Alvin Drew.
Image 2 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
While anchored to the foot restraint on Canadarm2 during a spacewalk in August 2007, CSA astronaut Dave Williams removed a faulty control moment gyroscope (CMG) and installed a new CMG into one of the Station's trusses. The four CMGs on the ISS are used to control the Station's attitude in orbit.
Image 3 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
CSA astronauts Julie Payette, STS-127 mission specialist; and Robert Thirsk, Expedition 20 flight engineer, are all smiles in the Destiny laboratory of the ISS in July 2009.
Image 4 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
In July 2009, CSA astronaut Bob Thirsk participated in the Bodies In the Space Environment (BISE) experiment. This Canadian experiment's purpose was to study how astronauts distinguish up from down in a near-weightless environment.
Image 5 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata and CSA astronaut Julie Payette at the controls of the Canadarm2 robotic workstation in the Destiny laboratory of the ISS in July 2009.
Image 6 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: NASA
In July 2009, there were 13 people of five different nationalities in space at the same time. To mark this historic occasion, the astronauts from the Space Shuttle invited the astronauts from the ISS to dinner. Canadian appetizers and dishes were served. On the menu: salmon pâté from British Columbia, shrimp garlic noodles, Indian lentils and rice, beef jerky from Alberta, smoked salmon, fruit bars from Ontario, dark chocolate covered cranberries and, to top it all off, maple leaf cookies. This meal was planned, tested and packaged on Earth with the help of nutritionists from the CSA and NASA.
Image 7 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
In December 2018, at an altitude of about 400 km, CSA astronaut David Saint-Jacques smiles for the camera with two Canadian symbols. During his mission, he became the fourth CSA astronaut to conduct a spacewalk and the first to use Canadarm2 to catch a visiting spacecraft. Together, he and his crewmates dedicated a record amount of time to science on the ISS.
Image 8 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
During his mission, David Saint-Jacques participated in seven Canadian scientific experiments. In this photo taken in January 2019, he is taking ultrasounds of his blood vessels for the Canadian study Vascular Echo. The findings of a previous experiment suggest that a daily exercise routine is not enough to counteract the effects of sedentariness caused by weightlessness on the body.
Image 9 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
David Saint-Jacques took this gorgeous photo of Newfoundland during his mission on board the ISS
Image 10 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
This photo of snowy Montreal was taken by David Saint-Jacques while aboard the ISS
Image 11 of 11
McGillians aboard the International Space StationPhoto: CSA/NASA
Epic selfie: David Saint-Jacques took part in his first spacewalk on April 8, 2019. He and NASAs astronaut Anne McClain performed a series of maintenance tasks on the exterior of the orbiting laboratory for 6 hours and 29 minutes.
