Maple Leaf in Space – By John Melady

Marc Garneau, Roberta Bondar, Julie Payette, Robert Thirsk, Chris Hadfield, and more recently, Guy Lalibertthe founder of Cirque de Soleil, all have one thing in common: theyre some of the very few Canadians who have been in space.

The launch of a spaceship is terribly exciting. Thats why thousands of people come to watch. They laugh, cheer, and applaud as the rocket rises. They see the smoke, steam, and white-hot fire as millions of litres of fuel burn in seconds. They feel the chest-thumping impact of the sound. Then they stare upward for a long time until they can no longer see even a tiny speck in the distant sky. By that time, the craft is in space. Canadas astronauts come from across the nation: from farms, cities, and little towns.

They went to large schools and to small ones. Maple Leaf in Space showcases these amazing Canadians who have ventured off our planet and delivers some of the thrill of what thats like.