The Canadian Space Agency confirms that Bjarni Tryggvason, who was part of Canada’s first six space travelers, has died at the age of 76. Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tryggvason grew up in Vancouver. He joined the Canadian space program in 1983 and flew his only mission with 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 equipment bus. . Bjarni Tryggvason, in the center of the back row, with fellow Canadian astronauts Chris Hadfield, Dave Williams, Julie Payette, Robert Thirsk and David Saint-Jacques at the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa on May 12, 2011. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press )
After leaving the program in 2008, he returned to teaching at what is now Western University. In 2009, it flew a replica of the Silver Dart, the first heaviest airborne engine ever flown in Canada.

A meticulous engineer

His colleagues in the space program remembered him fondly as a meticulous engineer and inventor and as someone who always had a humorous gleam in his eyes. Bjarni Tryggvason, photographed here on May 1, 2008 in Montreal, announced his retirement in 2008 after nearly 25 years with the Canadian Space Agency. (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press)
The agency acknowledged Trygwason’s death in a series of tweets on Wednesday. “We are deeply saddened to learn that former CSA astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason has died,” the CSA said, describing Tryggvason as “an engineer, a pilot, a trainer and an inventor.” [who] he applied the highest standards in what he undertook “. Bjarni Tryggvason was one of the first six Canadian astronauts selected in 1983. He flew to the Space Shuttle Discovery on August 7, 1997. Bjarni was an engineer, pilot, trainer and inventor. Apply the highest standards in what he undertook. pic.twitter.com/GvsS31D3wl – @ csa_asc
Former Canadian astronaut Chris Huntfield wrote a tribute to Trygwason on Twitter. “I lost a good friend today. A pioneering astronaut, a mechanical engineer, a proud parent, an inventor, a test pilot. A kind, funny, original man – Bjarni Trigvason.” 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 – @ Cmdr_Hadfield