The GGs in Space

When Canadian astronauts Julie Payette and Robert Thirsk took off for outer space in the summer of 2009, they brought along a couple of books – Airborn by Kenneth Oppel and Deux pas vers les étoiles by Jean-Rock Gaudreault (recent winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards).

The Canada Council contributed the books at the request of the Canadian Space Agency: Robert Thirsk wanted them in his official flight kit in recognition of the fact that he is a descendant of Sir John Buchan, the Governor General who established the awards in 1936.

On October 26, Thirsk returned the books to the Canada Council in a special event held at the Canada Science and Technology Museum. To allow these ‘space objects’ to be viewed by the Canadian public, the Canada Council donated them to two organizations: Airborn was donated to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and Deux pas vers les étoiles was donated to the Bibliothèque de la Ville de Saguenay.

Shown here: Robert Thirsk shakes hands with students at the event at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

For more information read the news release.