On January 22, 1992, Roberta Bondar became the first Canadian woman to travel into space. As a payload specialist aboard the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery during mission STS-42, she conducted over 40 scientific experiments within the Spacelab. This mission solidified her status as a pioneer in space medicine and human physiology research.
Academic Foundation
Born in Sault Ste. Marie in 1945, Bondar pursued extensive scientific training. She earned a Bachelor of Science in zoology and agriculture from the University of Guelph in 1968, followed by a Master of Science in experimental pathology from the University of Western Ontario in 1971. She later completed a Doctor of Philosophy in neuroscience at the University of Toronto Mississauga in 1974 and received her Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University in 1977.
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Selected in 1983 as one of the original six members of the Canadian Astronaut Corps, Bondar began formal training in 1984. Her work on the IML-1 mission focused on the effects of low-gravity environments on the human body. Following her flight, she led an international NASA research team for more than a decade, analyzing physiological recovery and its potential links to neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
Photography and Advocacy
Bondar studied professional nature photography at the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara. She has published four books featuring her environmental imagery, including Landscape of Dreams and The Arid Edge of Earth. In 2009, she established The Roberta Bondar Foundation to promote environmental awareness, further diversifying her contributions beyond the medical and scientific sectors.
Fast facts
- Born: 1945, Sault Ste. Marie
- Space Mission: STS-42, 1992
- Education: University of Guelph, McMaster University, University of Western Ontario, University of Toronto Mississauga
- Notable Recognition: Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (1998)
- Professional Field: Space Medicine and Neurology
- Affiliation: NASA
- Photography Training: Brooks Institute
Questions readers ask
Was Roberta Bondar the first Canadian in space?
No. She was the first Canadian woman in space and the first neurologist to fly in orbit.
What is the focus of The Roberta Bondar Foundation?
The foundation is a not-for-profit charity established in 2009 that focuses on environmental awareness.
Achievements
- Canadian Medical Hall of Fame — 1998
- Affiliated with National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Educated at University of Guelph, University of Western Ontario and University of Toronto Mississauga
- Worked as astronaut, biologist and photographer
