A Canadian astronaut
orbiting Earth received an honorary degree - a first in space - on Wednesday
during a long-distance call from his college alma mater.
The
University of Calgary in Alberta bestowed an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Robert
Thirsk, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency who is currently living
aboard the International Space Station. Thirsk, 55, is a graduate of the university
and Canada's first
long-term resident of the space station.
"This is
indeed a special honor for me," Thirsk said via a video link as his crewmate, Japanese
astronaut Koichi Wakata, presented him with a convocation cape aboard the
station. "If I can't be in Calgary, I think the second best place to be is in
space."
Thirsk
performed a somersault in weightlessness to show his excitement and answered
questions from students at the university.
A veteran
of two spaceflights, Thirsk holds several degrees in engineering and medicine,
but received his first degree in mechanical engineering from the University of
Calgary in 1976. He later obtained degrees in medicine and business, and joined
Canada's astronaut corps in 1983. Thirsk is from New Westminster, British
Columbia in Canada, is married and has three children.
Thirsk is
part of the space station's first full six-person
crew. He arrived in late May alongside a Russian cosmonaut and Belgian astronaut
- representing the European Space Agency - to double what was then a three-man
crew on the station. In addition to Thirsk, the station is currently home to
two Russian cosmonauts, and one astronaut each from the United States, Japan
and Belgium.
"To say we are watching this mission with great pride and interest is an
understatement," University of Calgary President Harvey Weingarten told the guests
- including nearly 100 teenagers attending university summer camp programs - at
Thirsk's degree presentation. "Dr. Thirsk is a tremendous ambassador for the
University of Calgary and for Canada. His accomplishments are beyond impressive
and he is a thoroughly genuine and compassionate person."
Thirsk is
the first of three Canadians to fly in space this year. On Saturday, NASA's
shuttle Endeavour is due to launch seven astronauts toward the station,
including Canadian
spaceflyer Julie Payette, who will make her second spaceflight. When
Payette launches aboard Endeavour, two Canadians will be in space at the same
time for the first time in history.
Later this
year, a Canadian space tourist - Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte - will also
fly to the station under a multimillion-deal between Russia's Federal Space
Agency and the U.S. firm Space Adventures. Like Thirsk, Laliberte will launch
aboard a Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft from the Central Asian spaceport of
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
After
receiving his degree, Thirsk stressed the importance of education to Canada's
space exploration efforts.
"When I was
a student at University of Calgary 33 years ago, I had a dream of one day
flying in space and being an astronaut," he said. "Fulfilling that dream is a
great feeling. Education really is the key to making your dreams come true."
Thirsk is
slated to return to Earth this fall to complete a six-month mission at the
space station.
advertisement
