posted 12-10-2004 10:27 AM            

Longueuil, December 10, 2004 - Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk
has been selected as a backup mission specialist and is now training with
European and Russian crewmembers in preparation for a Soyuz flight scheduled
for launch and rendezvous with the International Space Station in April
2005.

As a backup mission specialist for ESA Astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy,
Bob Thirsk will also join Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev and NASA
Astronaut John Phillips, who are currently training at Star City outside
Moscow. The Soyuz Mission will launch in April from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan. The mission will exchange expedition crews and replace the
Soyuz spacecraft on the space station. Soyuz TMA spacecraft are exchanged
every six months, providing expedition crew living and working onboard the
station with an emergency rescue vehicle. The training of backup crewmembers
is an important function and a precaution exercised to ensure the success of
every space mission.

"I am pleased to represent Canada for this back-up flight assignment.
Roberto Vittori, my colleague from Italy, is a fine astronaut and I am
honoured to train alongside him. This training opportunity offered to me is
another example of a beneficial collaboration between the Canadian and
European Space Agencies", said Bob Thirsk. "While my training program over
the next four months will be intensive, I look forward to the challenge."

Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA),
has extended the invitation for a Canadian Astronaut to take part in the
preparation for this Soyuz Mission to the station. The announcement today
reaffirms the outstanding collaboration between Canada and Europe, which
continues to leverage technological, scientific and industrial discovery,
exploration, and applications to deliver far-reaching social and economic
benefits for all our citizens.

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For more information:

Julie Simard
Communications Advisor
Media Relations & Information Services
Canadian Space Agency
Tel.: (450) 926-4370
E-mail: julie.simard@space.gc.ca www.space.gc.ca <http://www.space.gc.ca>

Cell.: (514) 241-2781

Julie Simard
Conseillère en communications, Relations médias /Communications Advisor,
Media Relations
6767, route de l'Aéroport, St-Hubert (Québec) J3Y 8Y9
Tél.: (450) 926-6651
Fax (450) 926-4352
Cell.: (514) 241-3327 www.espace.gc.ca

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