CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Ifra Zaidi calls her brush with two Canadian astronauts – one standing right next to her in the school gymnasium and the other floating high above in space – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“I was astonished,’’ says Ifra, a student at Stonepark Intermediate School.
“I could see David Saint-Jacques right there responding to me – and that was really, really cool.’’
Saint-Jacques, a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut, flew to the International Space Station last December. During his assignment, he is conducting Canadian and international science experiments and technology demonstrations. He is also supporting critical operations and maintenance activities, including robotics and spacewalks.
On Friday, he flipped into view, microphone in hand, aboard the ISS some 400 kilometres above Earth to chat with roughly 600 Stonepark students.
The students can thank Grade 9 science teacher Sharna Reynerd – and the luck of the draw – with being able to enjoy the out of this world experience.
A dozen or so students made their way up to a microphone to fire off prepared questions to Saint-Jacques, who was beamed into the gym on a large screen.
The exchange was thoughtful.
Asked by one student why young people should care about climate change that Saint-Jacques is trying to document in his photos being shot from aboard ISS, the Canadian astronaut told his Earth-based audience everybody should care.
“This planet is ours – and it’s yours,’’ he told the students, adding he is looking forward to “the great solutions’’ that will come from young minds.
In response to another query, he said being in space has changed his view of Earth in many ways.
“The Earth is beautiful. It’s blue. It’s breathing.’’
Space snapshot
Here is a biography of David Saint-Jacques, the Canadian Space Agency astronaut currently on his first mission aboard the International Space Station:
- Born Jan. 6, 1970
- Native of Saint-Lambert, Que.
- Background includes engineer, astrophysicist and family doctor
- Prior to joining the Canadian Space Program, Saint-Jacques was co-chief of medicine at Inuulitsivik Health Centre in Puvirnituq, Nunavik
- Has commercial pilot license with multi-engine and instrument ratings and advanced scuba-diving licence
- Married and has three children
- A life-long mountaineer, cyclist, skier and avid sailor
Jeremy Hansen, a CSA astronaut who has worked with Saint-Jacques for almost a decade, had his feet firmly planted in the Stonepark gym to help inspire students.
Hansen says he was inspired about space at a young age.
“I came across an image of astronauts standing on the moon and that just threw a switch in my brain and I thought that’s incredible, we can do that,’’ he says.
He set the goal of becoming an astronaut early in life and had many people help him along the way.
“And that’s what I would want to leave these children with here today is set goals in your life, share them with others around you: your family, your teachers, your mentors. You’d be surprised at what you may accomplish.’’
Sydney Laycock, 14, says meeting Hansen and seeing Saint-Jacques on the big screen has only intensified her interest in science.
“Robotics I find is very interesting and also AI – artificial intelligence,’’ she says.
“I find that very cool.’’
However, she is non-committal about one day pursuing the opportunity to travel in space.
“It would depend on the situation,’’ she says.
“Like it would be amazing. It would be great, but I’m not sure.’’
Time capsule
Here are some key moments for David Saint-Jacques aboard the International Space Station:
- Gives first news conference live from space on Dec. 10.
- Performs a space-walk on April 8 with NASA’s Anne McClain.
- During a live appearance from space on Jan. 18, Saint-Jacques launches an interactive Web-based activity using pictures taken from space.
- On Jan. 23, first amateur radio contact between Saint-Jacques and Ottawa students.
- Saint-Jacques is scheduled to return to Earth in late June.
Zaidi says she is fascinated by space and has given thought a few times of what it would be like for her to become an astronaut.
“After seeing David in his ship (International Space Station), I saw how happy he was and he accomplished his dreams and that made me want to do it, but I’m not sure if I’d be brave enough to go that far,’’ she says.
“It’s really scary.’’
As for Hansen, he is floating high at the prospect of flying to space and seeing Earth in a whole different light.
“It’s so obvious when my colleagues come back from space and I sit around with them that it is the view of our planet that is most striking,’’ he says.
“One of my friends was just saying, ‘you’ve seen all the videos, you’ve seen the photos, you imagine it is going to be just like that, but it blows your mind. It’s indescribable. So that is something I’m very much looking forward to someday is having that view myself.’’
