Dr. Robert Thirsk

Life Aboard the International Space Station

Robert Thirsk will share personal experiences of his 2009 expedition aboard the International Space Station. Bob will highlight his crew’s launch aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket from Kazakhstan and their subsequent rendezvous and docking with the ISS two days later.

Working aboard the Station within a collaborative and cross-cultural setting, Bob and his crew performed a variety of experiments on behalf of scientists from around the world. He will describe the nature of daily life aboard a space station and conclude his presentation by recounting the crew’s rollicking return to Earth at the end of their six-month odyssey. 

Dr. Thirsk's presentation will be an expanded Q&A facilitated by a student volunteer.

Speaker bio:

Dr. Robert Thirsk received degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Medicine and Business Administration from the University of Calgary, MIT and McGill University. Bob has flown on two spaceflights: a mission aboard the shuttle Columbia and an expedition aboard the International Space Station.

Although he is now retired from active duty, he continues to promote a role for Canada in the delivery of remote health care to astronauts who will someday venture on missions to deep space. Bob also advocates for a national economy based upon exploration, innovation and lifelong learning. 

See Dr. Thirsk's CSA page, which includes photos and videos from his ISS mission.