STEM Explained

From Sky to Space

Canadian pilot

Image capture from the video “From Sky to Space”.

Canadian pilot

Image capture from the video “From Sky to Space”.

Guidance & Careers,  Space Science,  Space exploration
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Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques explain how learning to fly an aircraft prepared them for the challenges of living in space.

Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques explain how learning to fly an aircraft prepared them for the challenges of living in space (2:57 min).

All Canadian astronauts are also trained to be pilots. Many of them were already pilots before they were selected to be astronauts. In fact, all of the first astronauts and cosmonauts were fighter pilots before they were selected for space flight.  

Did you know?

Cosmonauts are like astronauts, but they are trained by the Russian Space Agency.

In this video from the Canadian Space Agency, Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques discuss how flying helps them develop skills that prepare them for working in space. 

In 2009, the Canadian Space Agency selected Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques to be astronauts. As part of ISS Expeditions 58 and 59, David Saint-Jacques flew to the International Space Station. These expeditions were scheduled from December 2018 to June 2019. While on board, he conducted many science experiments. In April 2019, he did a spacewalk.

Did you know?

Two of David Saint-Jacques’ science experiments in space were supported by Let’s Talk Science!

Starting Points

  • Have you ever wanted to go to space? Would you be willing to train to be a pilot in order to do so?
  • Do you enjoy high-stress activities like flying, riding a roller coaster, or hang gliding? What do you like/dislike about them?
  • Do you think that training has to be dangerous in order to be really effective?
     
  • Astronauts go through extensive training before they are ready to fly to space. How necessary is that training? What advantages does that training give them in space?
  • Does sending humans into space justify the danger and expense? Explain.
     
  • In what ways do astronauts prepare for the unknowns of space by learning to fly jets?
  • What is a flight simulator? Why is training on a simulator alone not adequate for flying jets?
  • How do Canadian astronauts train to go to space?
     
  • With space missions becoming longer and longer, how has astronaut training evolved? How have the missions teams been developed to accommodate for longer space missions? (Note: This question may involve additional research)
     
  • How does the Canadian Space Agency advertise for new astronauts? 
  • What initiatives does the Canadian Space Agency have for creating interest in young people to consider becoming astronauts. Why do they do these youth-centred activities?
     
  • This video supports learning about space, particularly astronaut flight training. It introduces concepts such as gliders, jets, rockets, flight training and flight simulator. 
  • Teachers could get students thinking about  this topic by having them complete an Admit Slip learning strategy that includes questions from the Connecting & Relating section. Download ready-to-use Admit Slip reproducibles in [Google doc] or [PDF] formats.
  • Teachers could participate in the Canadian Space Agency’s Junior Astronaut program with their students, for the opportunity to have a Canadian Space Agency astronaut or other professional visit their classroom, as well as give students the opportunity to go to Space Camp at the Canadian Space Agency’s headquarters to train alongside Canadian astronauts.
  • After viewing the video, students in groups or as a class could brainstorm the skills and attitudes that they think are required to become a successful pilot and astronaut.
     

Connecting and Relating

  • Have you ever wanted to go to space? Would you be willing to train to be a pilot in order to do so?
  • Do you enjoy high-stress activities like flying, riding a roller coaster, or hang gliding? What do you like/dislike about them?
  • Do you think that training has to be dangerous in order to be really effective?
     

Relating Science and Technology to Society and the Environment

  • Astronauts go through extensive training before they are ready to fly to space. How necessary is that training? What advantages does that training give them in space?
  • Does sending humans into space justify the danger and expense? Explain.
     

Exploring Concepts

  • In what ways do astronauts prepare for the unknowns of space by learning to fly jets?
  • What is a flight simulator? Why is training on a simulator alone not adequate for flying jets?
  • How do Canadian astronauts train to go to space?
     

Nature of Science/Nature of Technology

  • With space missions becoming longer and longer, how has astronaut training evolved? How have the missions teams been developed to accommodate for longer space missions? (Note: This question may involve additional research)
     

Media Literacy

  • How does the Canadian Space Agency advertise for new astronauts? 
  • What initiatives does the Canadian Space Agency have for creating interest in young people to consider becoming astronauts. Why do they do these youth-centred activities?
     

Teaching Suggestions

  • This video supports learning about space, particularly astronaut flight training. It introduces concepts such as gliders, jets, rockets, flight training and flight simulator. 
  • Teachers could get students thinking about  this topic by having them complete an Admit Slip learning strategy that includes questions from the Connecting & Relating section. Download ready-to-use Admit Slip reproducibles in [Google doc] or [PDF] formats.
  • Teachers could participate in the Canadian Space Agency’s Junior Astronaut program with their students, for the opportunity to have a Canadian Space Agency astronaut or other professional visit their classroom, as well as give students the opportunity to go to Space Camp at the Canadian Space Agency’s headquarters to train alongside Canadian astronauts.
  • After viewing the video, students in groups or as a class could brainstorm the skills and attitudes that they think are required to become a successful pilot and astronaut.
     

Related Topics

Aircraft
Astronauts
Careers 6
Careers 9
Living in Space