Roberta Lynn Bondar is a Canadian Astronaut, neurologist and consultant, known for being Canada’s first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space to explore and examine the great unknown. Born on December 4, 1945, in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Dr. Bondar became known as a keen sports enthusiast and an accomplished hiker, canoeist, cross-country skier, and balloonist, among other things. In 1983, Dr. Bondar was one of 2,400 applicants who applied for the role of astronaut, and she was announced a winner, leaving Earth in January 1992 aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery.
Roberta Bondar. Canadian Archives. no restrictions.
Dr. Bondar holds a Masters in Science degree from the University of Western Ontario, a PhD in neurobiology from the University of Toronto and a degree in medicine from McMaster University. She has also served as a member of the Ontario Premier’s Council on Science and Technology, as a civil aviation medical examiner and as a member of the scientific staff of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. On September 22, 1992, she addressed the Empire Club of Canada and shared her experiences while also discussing astronautics, science, and outer space. During her space adventure, Dr. Bondar conducted experiments that had never been done before. Prior to the launch, astronauts underwent virtual and physical training to prepare them for the conditions they would encounter during all phases of the flight and to prepare them for a microgravity environment.
Dr. Bondar described the experience of takeoff, stating, “We were on our backs, pointed up towards the sky, and when the three main engines fired, it was just like the moderate turbulence you get as a commercial airliner comes into the airport.” She shared that everything shakes during takeoff and that it is a very difficult time, with everyone relieved once in space. For two minutes and six seconds, those solid rocket fires are heard loud and clear, before they burn out and tumble back into the Atlantic. “When you’re on your back, you feel this massive steel structure start clanging on the pad; you realize there’s a tremendous force beneath you. And very quickly the next thing you feel is the vibration from the solid rocket boosters. It’s like someone taking you by the shoulder and shaking you. Everything is shaking,” she said. Takeoff is a very difficult time and everyone has their fingers crossed, signing in relief once the rocket hits space. This is an experimental system and astronauts have a lot of confidence in its operation, but it is not to be taken for granted, she stated.
Once the rocket leaves the ground and breaks away, the astronauts arrive in space about six minutes later, according to Dr. Bondar. On her specific mission, Canada participated in this flight along with scientists from Japan and the United States. In total, there were 14 countries represented.
Dr. Bondar describes being in space as fun. “When you get over all the other stuff you have to deal with; it’s kind of neat to be able to fly around,” she said. However, space travel can stress space crew members both physically and mentally, especially when they sometimes spend 14 to 16 hours a day trying to get all the scientific work done.
“One of the most wonderful things you can do from space is look at the planet Earth,” said Dr. Bondar. “I had a wonderful time, when I had a few minutes, looking at our golden planet. It was so beautiful. The light angle changed every time I looked at it, making the atmosphere different colours. Some days it was golden, some days it was a turquoise blue, it was always changing. I can only tell you that we cannot attach the same quality of depth and luxury of colour in this film, as you can see with the human eye in space.”
When Dr. Bondar and her fellow astronauts returned home, they had all hoped for another opportunity to fly again and be able to look down beyond our planet. Leaving space taught Dr. Bondar how to look at the world differently, wishing that everybody could see how beautiful our planet really is. It also made her feel more protective of the civilization, realizing how much we mean to each other and how much we need to take care of each other.
Other speeches related to space:
The Case for Space Christopher Trump, March 2, 1989
The Apollo XIII Mission, Captain James A. Lovell Jr, August 18, 1970
Space Mission 41-G, Marc Garneau, January 16, 1986
Apollo Communications, Arlon J. Svien, November 12, 1970
Stratosphere Exploration, Captain Albert W. Stevens, February 27, 1936
Sputniks, John Frederick Heard, April 10, 1958.
Written by Mackenzie MacDonald. Mackenzie is a third-year Master of Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research interests include social justice and human rights issues, on matters such as gender equality, Indigenous rights, criminal justice and more.
