NAME: Dr. Roberta Lynn Bondar

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut - Retired

PERSONAL DATA:

Native Ontarian born December 4, 1945 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Bondar has certification in scuba diving, parachuting, and holds a private pilot’s license. She enjoys flying, photography, and hot air ballooning.

SPACE EXPERIENCE:

She was one of the six original Canadian astronauts selected in December 1983 and began astronaut training in February 1984. She served as chairperson of the Canadian Life Sciences Subcommittee for Space Station from 1985 to 1989, and as a member of the Ontario Premier’s Council on Science and Technology from 1988 to 1989.

SPACE FLIGHT:

In early 1990, she was designated a prime Payload Specialist for the first International Microgravity Laboratory Mission (IML-1). Dr. Bondar flew on the space shuttle Discovery during Mission STS-42, January 22-30, 1992 where she performed life science and material science experiments in the Spacelab and on the mid-deck.

CURRENT STATUS:

In September of 1992 Dr. Bondar retired from the Canadian Space Agency to return to her research. Since her retirement Dr. Bondar has pursued interests in research, photography and motivational speaking. Dr. Roberta Bondar stepped down as the Chancellor of Trent University on June 30, 2009, after serving two consecutive (3-year) terms.