Thirsk returns to pick up degree

February 8, 2010

Watching Canada from space station window was unforgettable image for CSA astronaut

Robert Thirsk

With his record-setting space flight behind him, Canadian Space Agency astronaut and University of Calgary alumnus Robert Thirsk returned to campus Monday to accept the honorary degree he received “virtually” last July via live satellite downlink while aboard the International Space Station.

“There’s something special about Calgary—the can-do attitude and spirit of exploration—that immediately makes me comfortable and relaxed as soon as I arrive,” said Thirsk, who graduated from the Schulich School of Engineering at the U of C in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. “The U of C has been very supportive of me throughout my career and particularly during this last mission.”

Thirsk also returned the convocation hood he wore on board the space station during the convocation ceremony. It will be prominently displayed in the U of C’s new Taylor Family Digital Library, opening next year, as an inspirational reminder to students.

Chancellor Joanne Cuthbertson presents the diploma to Thirsk.

Chancellor Joanne Cuthbertson said she had been looking forward to presenting the diploma to Thirsk in person. “To have you with us during the ceremony while you orbited high above the Earth was a special moment for me, and it was a unique moment in the University of Calgary’s history,” said Cuthbertson. “You have helped shine a light on the U of C, you bring great pride to our university community, and you have inspired future generations of students.”

During the news conference, Thirsk shared highlights of his six-month mission in orbit—the first time a Canadian has ever undertaken a long-duration space mission. “There are no words and no video to properly convey what it’s like to fly like Superman over the Earth,” he said.

“When we had free time, we didn’t watch videos, and we didn’t read books. We just looked out the window at our beautiful planet. And if I had a dollar for every time I looked out the window when I passed over Calgary, I’d be a rich man.”

In 1985, Thirsk received the U of C’s inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award, the university’s highest honour recognizing career achievements for members of our alumni family of 135,000. The Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) that he received last summer is the university’s highest academic honour and given to individuals whose accomplishments provide inspiration and leadership to all.

The space station mission was Thirsk’s second time in space. In 1996, he was part of a mission aboard space shuttle Columbia that lasted 17 days, which at the time was the longest in the history of shuttle flights.

For more information on Thirsk's mission, go to:
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions/expedition20-21/default.asp