Soyuz Mission: CSA Astronaut Bob Thirsk<br />selected as a backup mission specialist<br /><br />Longueuil, December 10, 2004 - Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk<br />has been selected as a backup mission specialist and is now training with<br />European and Russian crewmembers in preparation for a Soyuz flight scheduled<br />for launch and rendezvous with the International Space Station in April<br />2005.<br /><br />As a backup mission specialist for ESA Astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy,<br />Bob Thirsk will also join Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and NASA<br />Astronaut John Phillips, who are currently training at Star City outside<br />Moscow. The Soyuz Mission will launch in April from the Baikonur Cosmodrome<br />in Kazakhstan. The mission will exchange expedition crews and replace the<br />Soyuz spacecraft on the space station. Soyuz TMA spacecraft are exchanged<br />every six months, providing expedition crew living and working onboard the<br />station with an emergency rescue vehicle. The training of backup crewmembers<br />is an important function and a precaution exercised to ensure the success of<br />every space mission.<br /><br />"I am pleased to represent Canada for this back-up flight assignment.<br />Roberto Vittori, my colleague from Italy, is a fine astronaut and I am<br />honoured to train alongside him. This training opportunity offered to me is<br />another example of a beneficial collaboration between the Canadian and<br />European Space Agencies", said Bob Thirsk. "While my training program over<br />the next four months will be intensive, I look forward to the challenge."<br /><br />Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA),<br />has extended the invitation for a Canadian Astronaut to take part in the<br />preparation for this Soyuz Mission to the station. The announcement today<br />reaffirms the outstanding collaboration between Canada and Europe, which<br />continues to leverage technological, scientific and industrial discovery,<br />exploration, and applications to deliver far-reaching social and economic<br />benefits for all our citizens.<br /><br />- 30 -<br /><br />For more information:<br /><br />Julie Simard<br />Communications Advisor<br />Media Relations & Information Services<br />Canadian Space Agency<br />Tel.: (450) 926-4370<br />E-mail: julie.simard@space.gc.ca<br />www.space.gc.ca <http://www.space.gc.ca>