How Did Roberta Bondar Go To Space?

Ten years ago today, the first Canadian went into space. After the first Canadian to go to space, numerous Canadians made their venture to space, however none of them being a woman. Roberta Bondar made history in space and Canadian history by being the first Canadian women and first neurologist in space. A physician, neurologist, scientist, photographer and astronaut was abroad the space shuttle Discovery making Canadian history.

From a very young age Roberta Bondar had a strong interest in science. Her passion led her to pursue a career in neurology, specializing in the nervous system. Roberta Bondar attained a degree in neuro-ophthalmalgia and went on to be the assistant professor at McMaster University from 1982-1984. While working as an assistant professor, she was doing research on how the body is affected when in low gravity. At this time, Roberta Bondar was also selected to be a part of the Canadian Space Program. Her training with NASA began in 1984, this being the beginning of her journey to space.

On January 22, 1992, Roberta Bondar started her eight-day mission alongside seven other astronauts. This mission, STS-42, was done on the space shuttle Discovery. Discovery had a space laboratory built in, also being the first International Microgravity Laboratory. The laboratory was used for experiments and research Roberta Bondar set out
Upon her return, she retired from being an astronaut to leave more time for research. Roberta Bondar and an international medical research team studied the data collected during her mission. Specifically, the team studied the short term and long term of going into space on blood flow to the brain and heart. While doing so, more information learned about symptoms of neurological conditions on earth and in microgravity environments revolutionizing how scientists, astronauts and doctors perceived the human body after going into