Allan Rock, the new federal Industry Minister, is to announce today the name of the next Canadian astronaut in space -- and the date of the mission.
The announcement will end a brief drought for Canada's space travellers. For the first time since 1995, Canada does not have an astronaut scheduled to go into orbit aboard a space shuttle this year.
Canadian officials had initially expected astronaut Steve MacLean to be the next Canadian in space, and were hoping he would get an assignment during one of this year's scheduled shuttle launches.
Among active Canadian astronauts, Mr. MacLean, a 48-year-old Ottawa-born physicist, is the first to fly in space. He took part in a 1992 mission -- meaning he is also the one who hasn't flown for the longest time.
However, by last fall, staffing for all seven flights for 2002 was finalized without a Canadian presence.
Future opportunities for Canadians to go into space may be reduced by a budget crisis at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The belt-tightening at NASA may force the U.S. space agency to cut the number of permanent crew members aboard the International Space Station to three from six, limiting flight opportunities for non-American astronauts.
The situation has also led the Canadian Space Agency to delay hiring a next class of Canadian astronauts.
Six shuttle flights are tentatively scheduled for 2003 but it may be only in 2004 that another Canadian will get named to a mission.
Of the class of 1983, the first year Canadians were recruited by Canada as astronauts, only Robert Thirsk and Mr. MacLean remain active, and are touted by Canadian space officials as the next astronauts in line for a mission.
Tu Thanh Ha