Roberta Bondar

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Image:Roberta-bondar.jpg Dr. Roberta Lynn Bondar, O.C., O.Ont, M.D., Ph.D, D.Sc, F.R.C.P.(C) is a former Canadian Astronaut (born December 4, 1945, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.) She holds a B.Sc in zoology and agriculture from the University of Guelph (1968), an M.Sc in experimental pathology from the University of Western Ontario (1971), a Ph.D in neurobiology from the University of Toronto (1974), an MD from McMaster University (1977), and is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in neurology 1981.

She began her astronaut training in 1984, and in 1990 was designated a prime Payload Specialist for the first International Microgravity Laboratory Mission (IML-1). Dr. Bondar flew on the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery during Mission STS-42, January 22-30, 1992, during which she performed experiments in the Spacelab.

Dr. Bondar left the Canadian Space Agency in 1992 to pursue her research. She is currently chancellor of Trent University.

In 1992 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 1998 she was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. She was also made a Member of the Order of Ontario.

In 1996, Dr Roberta Bondar Public School was opened in Ajax, Ontario.

In 2005, a public school bearing her name opened in Brampton, Ontario called Roberta Bondar Public School

In her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, a park with a large tent pavillion is also named after her. A more important landmark, located on the waterfront near city hall, is Roberta Bondar Place, 70 Foster Dr, Sault Ste Marie, ON P6A 6V8, Canada. The building is occupied by the Ontario Lottery Corporation and other Ontario governemnt operations. The park dock, where ferries depart from, also bears her name.

It is commonly assumed Dr. Bondar died in a space shuttle re-entry accident. This is untrue, she returned after 8 days in space on mission STS-42. Roberta and Phil Esposito (hockey player) are regarded by most Sault natives as their most famous prodigies.

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