Author of the article: Date of publication: Apr 6, 2022 • 39 minutes ago • 1 minute reading • Join this discussion In this May 12, 2011 archive photo, Canadian astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason speaks at the opening of a new Canadian Space Agency (CSA) exhibition at the Museum of Aviation and Space Canada in Ottawa. Photo by SCOTT TAYLOR / Postmedia Network
Content of the article
Bjarni Tryggvason, one of the first six Canadians to join the astronaut program, has died at the age of 76, the Canadian Space Agency has confirmed.
Advertising 2
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tryggvason grew up in Vancouver. He studied mechanical physics, worked as a meteorologist for the federal government, and taught at universities in Japan and Australia, as well as at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) before joining the space program in 1983. His only mission was the Discovery space shuttle in 1997. In this 12-day mission, he orbited the Earth 189 times, conducting experiments on the atmosphere and the effect of space flight on the shuttle’s equipment. Although Trygwason never returned to space, his contribution to the program continued. Assist in the development of equipment used by NASA, the European Space Agency and the Russian program, including the country’s Mir space station.
Advertising 3
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
He left the space program in 2008, returning to teach at Western. Bjarni flew to the Space Shuttle Discovery on August 7, 1997. He spent more than 11 days in space, using a Canadian technology that aided development: the Microgravity Vibration Isolation Mount. During his career, he wrote more than 50 published papers and held three patents. pic.twitter.com/fYbvxybdYr – Canadian Space Agency (@csa_asc) April 6, 2022
Advertising 4
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
In addition to being a scientist and inventor, Tryggvason was also a highly skilled pilot. He flew aerobics, held an airline license – the highest rating for a civilian pilot – and was a captain in the Tutor training jet with the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 2009, he piloted a replica of the Silver Dart, the first heaviest airborne engine ever flown anywhere in Canada and the Commonwealth. Trygwason has received awards from three countries – the United States, Iceland and Canada. In 2003, the Canada Post stamped him. On Tuesday, his former colleagues remembered him with love. “Bjarni was a pioneer, an excellent engineer and test pilot and a dear friend,” said former astronaut Chris Huntfield. “The glow in Bjarni’s eyes always made you understand that he saw the world in a different way. “Bjarni saw the world with the clarity of an engineer, the perspective of a pilot and the humor of a humorist.” I lost a good friend today. Leading astronaut, mechanical engineer, proud parent, inventor, test pilot. A kind, funny, original man – Bjarni Tryggvason. pic.twitter.com/R17K44dJOA – Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) April 6, 2022
Advertising 5
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Robert Thirsk, a colleague of the ’83 astronaut class, called Tryggvason “a technically brilliant, operationally capable and dear friend.” “I will miss him very much.” he said.
Share this article on your social network
Sign up to receive daily headlines from Windsor Star, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking the subscribe button you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
Thank you for your registration!
A welcome email is on its way. If you do not see it, check the junk folder. The next issue of Windsor Star Headline News will be in your inbox soon. We encountered a problem with your registration. PLEASE try again
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but political forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour to monitor before appearing on the site. We ask that you retain your comments regarding and with respect. We’ve activated email notifications — you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, an update on a comment thread that follows, or if a user follows the comments. See the Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to customize your email settings.
