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  Honorary degree in space to Robert Thirsk

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Author Topic:   Honorary degree in space to Robert Thirsk
Robert Pearlman
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posted 07-08-2009 08:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Canadian Space Agency release
Honorary Degree in Space

On July 8, the Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk will become the first person ever to receive an Honorary degree in space. University of Calgary Chancellor, Joanne Cuthbertson will bestow the precious diploma via downlink between the International Space Station and the University.

Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-08-2009 08:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
University of Calgary release
The Thirsk degree

Floating 400 kilometres above the Earth, Canadian Space Agency astronaut and U of C alumnus Robert Thirsk will become the first person in orbit to receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws.

Back on Earth, the historic ceremony on campus will include U of C Chancellor Joanne Cuthbertson, President Harvey Weingarten, invited guests and about 100 young teens from the Minds in Motion and Mini U summer camps. You can follow the event on the U of C's Twitter page.

"I could not think of a more deserving recipient than Bob Thirsk," said Weingarten. "He's an excellent ambassador for both the University of Calgary and Canada. His accomplishments are beyond impressive and he remains a thoroughly genuine and compassionate individual."

As he zips across the sky at more than eight kilometres per second, Thirsk is part of a history-making expedition aboard the space station. Launching into orbit on May 27, he is the first Canadian to undertake a long-duration space flight spanning six months. And he is one of a record-setting six astronauts now living and working aboard the station performing scientific experiments that will set the stage for future long-distance missions to the moon and Mars.

Thirsk earned his first degree in mechanical engineering at the U of C in 1976 from what is now the Schulich School of Engineering. And while he went on to earn two master's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his medical degree from McGill University, he remains closely tied to Calgary with many friends and family still living here. He was the inaugural recipient of the U of C's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-08-2009 01:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

Video credit: NASA TV

BobRichards
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posted 07-09-2009 10:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for BobRichards   Click Here to Email BobRichards     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
While a great honour and event for Bob, and an inspired and visionary act by the University of Calgary, this was not the first honourary degree granted to someone in space. The International Space University granted an Honourary Doctorate to Anousheh Ansari in 2006 while on the ISS as the first private female space explorer.

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