Espace - l'Ultime Frontière. My mission: To contribute to Canada's space science and space technology. To advance Canadian presence in space. To boldly go to the International Space Station (ISS) for a 6-month stay.
Although I had not been born to observe the launch of Sputnik, I lived in its effect of orientation towards science and technology. I vividly remember watching Apollo 11's moon landing on 1969-07-24. My childhood dream was to live and work in space. Subsequently, I was influenced by Star Trek's space exploration, so I watched every episode of ST:TOS, ST:TMP, ST:TNG, ST:DS9, ST:VOY, and ST:ENT. I was especially inspired by Star Trek's philosophy of optimistic future. Now, I want to be part of the next generation of Canadian space explorers.
While studying at university in the early 1980's, I was contemplating research on fuel cells, on semiconductor crystal growth in micro-gravity environment in space, etc. I was also thinking about ways to improve the poor quality of voice communication between the spacecraft and the ground.
I have overcome a minor physical handicap from a childhood injury, and I am in excellent health. Although I am not an Olympic athlete, I stay fit in shape by cycling to the summit of Gatineau Hills in summer, and by cross-country skiing on golf courses in winter. I have made 50 blood donations so far, and I have taken part in many experimental medical research studies as a healthy control subject (guinea pig). I have been a non-smoker my entire life, and my addiction is limited to double-double of solving Sudoku puzzles and Rubic's Cube. I practice hand-eye co-ordination by playing video games. I have survived a personal tragedy which involved mental illness of a family member. As a result, I am mentally stable now.
I could not participate in the 2 previous astronaut recruitment campaigns in 1983 and in 1992 because I had very poor unaided vision, which has since been corrected to 20/20 by a successful LASIK surgery on 1997-12-03. I am not afraid of a 1 % loss of bone mass per month in space, and I am up to the challenge of wearing a diaper and repairing a broken toilet on the ISS. I am ready for training at the habitation station on Devin Island in the Canadian Arctic, in NEEMO Aquarius Underwater Laboratory in Florida, on the Vomit Comet, etc.
My core competencies are innovative creativity, imagination, ingenuity and originality, so I think outside the box. I do extreme multi-tasking with the philosophy of absolute simplicity, ultimate consistency and complete organisation. I have an open and probing mind, so I am always learning, acquiring new knowledge every day. I keep current with latest developments in science and technology by watching TV programmes like "Daily Planet" and "Naked Science" on Discovery Channel, "Nova" and "Scientific American" on PBS, "Décourverte" on SRC, etc.
I am purposeful and goal-oriented. I have a wide variety of experience and a versatile set of skills. I have dexterity which is required to operate the Canadarm 2, the Mobile Servicing System (MSS). I have logical thinking, critical thinking, and abstract thinking, suitable for managing research projects. I have organisation skills with order and self-discipline, appropriate for conducting laboratory experiments on the ISS. My superior analytical problem solving skills are ideal for making repairs to the ISS.
I do not have claustrophobia, and my ecological lifestyle and minimalist eating habits are especially suitable for a long-duration mission in space. I am used to living alone, so mental health due to social isolation is not a problem for me. I also have high tolerance, i.e., low probability of conflicts. In fact, I perform much better when I work independently in self-directed fashion. However, I can be an excellent team member in a teamwork environment with common goals and objectives, if the team is worth my total dedication, which will be the case at the CSA.
After the 6-month mission on the ISS, my ultimate goal would be a posting to the permanent Moon base, planting a Canadian flag on the Moon, being the first human being to live, die and be buried on the Moon colony. My son and 2 daughters will be happy to see their father realise his dream.
I became a Canadian citizen by choice, and my loyalty is only to Canada as I have no other nationality or citizenship. I do not belong to any ethnic groups or cultural communities.
I consider myself to be a late bloomer, and I am still growing up. American astronaut Story Musgrave held the record for the oldest person in orbit until age 62, while John Glenn flew in space at age 77 in 1998. If selected, I will dedicate at least 15 years of commitment to the CSA. I also look forward to learning Russian.
As John F. Kennedy once said: "Impossible is a state of mind." I keep my imagination alive...
