Governor General to attend space launch for Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques

When Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques blasts into orbit next week atopa Russian rocket, his family back on Earth will be getting help from Gov.Gen.JuliePayette.

Payette, a former astronaut who last travelled into orbit on the space shuttle Endeavour in 2009, plans to visit the Russian launch facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, for Saint-Jacques's liftoffon Dec. 3.

Canadian officials familiar with the visit say, in addition to representing the head of state, Payette will also have a formal role as Saint-Jacques'sCasualty Assistance Calls Officer. The role typically involves liaising between the astronaut's family and different governments in the event of any problems on launch day.

Saint-Jacques, 48, is married with three children.

• Making an astronaut: How David Saint-Jacques is training for space station mission

The Prime Minister's Office is expected to release more details aboutPayette's trip on Monday.

Payette was appointed governor general in July 2017, but her role helping the family pre-dates the appointment, according to one Canadian official.

Saint-Jacques'slaunchto the International Space Station his first space voyage is set for 6:30 a.m. ET on Dec. 3.

He will serve as the Soyuz co-pilot for the three-person mission alongside Russian mission commander Oleg Kononenko and American astronaut Anne McClain. He will also serve as the crew's doctor on board the ISS during a six-and-a-half-month stay.

Russia leases a Soviet-era facility in central Kazakhstan to launch its manned missions to the International Space Station.

Since the end of the U.S. Space Shuttle program, Russian spacecraft have been the only way to get to the ISS and dozens of astronauts of different nationalities, including Canadian Chris Hadfield, have made the trip.

Payette's attendance at the launch is unusual in several aspects.

Tense relations with Russia

Russia's takeover of Crimea in 2014 and its ongoing military involvement in separatist areas of eastern Ukrainehave sent Canadian relations with Russia into a deep freeze.

Official contact between senior members of Canada's government and Russia have been practically non-existent in recent years.

Canada has sanctioned many senior members of Vladimir Putin's regime, including Dmitry Rogozin, the current head of Russia's Space AgencyRoscosmos.

One of the Canadian officialstold CBCNewsthat no direct talks between Payette and any Russian representatives are planned in Baikonur, although there will be an official two-day visit to Kazakhstan following the launch.

Payette's status as a former astronaut and a member of a very small group of Canadians to fly in space is also significant.The hope is that her presence can help focus public attention on Canada's role in space, said the official.

Saint-Jacques will be the 10th Canadian to travel tospace.

• David Saint-Jacques waits patiently for launch to space station after Soyuz setback

While Russia's vintage Soyuz program has proven reliableand safe for those flying to the ISS, the last mission on Oct.11 ended in failure, forcing NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut AlexeiOvchininto make an emergencylanding. The pair were shaken but unharmed.

Saint-Jacques,KononenkoandMcClainhad originally been scheduled to blast off onDec. 20,but the mission was moved up following the failed launch.

Investigators with NASA and Roscosmos have spent the last two months trying to solve the problem and ensure thislaunch is uneventful.