Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with canadian astronaut Julie Payette and fellow crew members

November 04, 2009

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Canadian astronaut Julie Payette who, along with the crew of Space Shuttle Mission STS-127, was recognized in the House of Commons today.  Ms. Payette and her fellow crew members returned from a 16-day mission in space on July 31.

On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my congratulations to Julie Payette and the crew of the space shuttle on a successful mission,” said the Prime Minister.  “Ms. Payette and her fellow astronauts are an inspiration, the latest in an elite group of Canadian astronauts to probe not just space, but the boundaries of knowledge itself.”

This most recent mission was Ms. Payette’s second trip to space.  She has logged more than 25 days in space.  On her most recent mission, Ms. Payette joined Dr. Robert Thirsk on the International Space Station, the first time in history that two Canadian astronauts were in orbit at the same time.

During the meeting today, the Commander Mark L. Polansky, Ms. Payette and the STS-127 crew presented Prime Minister Harper with a montage of photos taken during their mission and a Canadian flag that travelled on the shuttle.

Canadians are rightfully proud of our country’s quarter-century of leadership in the exploration of space,” said the Prime Minister.  “From the earliest uses of the groundbreaking Canadarm to the next-generation Canadian robotics used in the construction of the International Space Station, Canadian expertise and experience are playing a growing role in the exploration of the final frontier.”