By Canadian Press

One of Canada’s original six astronauts and Space Shuttle vet dies

Apr 6, 2022 | 3:34 PM

One of Canada’s first astronauts has died.

The Canadian Space Agency is confirming Bjarni Tryggvason, who was part of Canada’s original six space voyageurs, died at the age of 76.

Born in Reykjavik, Iceland, Tryggvason grew up in Vancouver.

He joined the Canadian space program in 1983 and flew his one and only mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1997.

On that 12-day mission, he orbited Earth 189 times, performing experiments on the atmosphere and the effect of space flight on the shuttle’s equipment.

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After leaving the program in 2008, he returned to teaching at what is now Western University.

In 2009, he flew a replica of the Silver Dart, the first heavier-than-air machine to fly in Canada.  

His space program colleagues remembered him fondly as a meticulous engineer and inventor, and as someone who always had a humorous twinkle in his eye. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2022. 

The Canadian Press