Carleton alumnus in the running as next Canadian astronaut

(Ottawa) –

Carleton alumnus Matt Bamsey is one of 16 candidates selected by the Canadian Space Agency for its National Astronaut Recruitment Campaign.

Bamsey completed an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering at Carleton in 2004. He is now pursuing a PhD in environmental biology at the University of Guelph and working at the CSA’s space science-planetary exploration division. He is researching life-support systems that will enable future space travellers to grow plants for food in extreme environments.

“The motivated learning environment at Carleton University really provided that solid engineering foundation and, more specifically, aerospace base that has allowed me to pursue exciting projects in the space domain and truly follow my dreams,” says Bamsey.

He was chosen from a recruitment pool of 5,300 people. Over the last several months, the CSA interviewed Bamsey and other candidates, putting them through a series of medical exams as well as physical and skills tests in sometimes extreme conditions to meet the demands of astronaut training and space flight.

Bamsey will find out in May if he will join Canada’s astronaut corps. If so, he will join the ranks of Carleton’s former chancellor, Marc Garneau, who was Canada’s first astronaut in space.
“We congratulate Matt on this great accomplishment,” says Rafik Goubran, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton. “I guess you could say that his engineering training at Carleton is out of this world.”

CBC is running a contest asking people to vote for their favourite future astronaut. To vote for Matt, you can go to: http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/canada/2062/