Two EngSci alumni make shortlist to become Canada’s next astronaut

Aaron Persad shows off a small sample of water he took on a microgravity simulation test flight in November 2016. Persad is one of 70 candidates the Canadian Space Agency is considering to become Canada’s next astronaut. (Photo courtesy Aaron Persad)

Aaron Persad (EngSci 0T6, MIE PhD 1T4) and Najmus Ibrahim (EngSci 0T9, UTIAS MASc 1T3) are among five U of T Engineering alumni who are on the Canadian Space Agency’s shortlist of candidates to become Canada’s next astronaut. Persad is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the lab of Professor David Sinton (MIE). Ibrahim is a guidance, navigation and control engineer at the Space Flight Laboratory at the University of Toronto.

“Being considered for such a position is a great honour and no doubt speaks to the talents and character of our graduates,” says Professor Deepa Kundur, Chair of the Division of Engineering Science. “We’re very proud of this accomplishment and we wish Aaron and Najmus best of luck on this journey.”