Canada's 2 newest astronauts named during Parliament Hill festivities
Canadian Space Agency picked Jennifer Sidey, Joshua Kutryk from more than 3,700 candidates
Two Albertans were named Canada's newest astronauts Saturday as the country marked its 150th birthday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used the Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa to name Jennifer Sidey of Calgary and Joshua Kutryk of Fort Saskatchewan.
Sidey is a lecturer with the University of Cambridge who has worked as a mechanical engineer, while Kutryk is an air force pilot who also holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in defence studies.
.@Astro_Kutryk and @Astro_Jenni will begin two years of training at @NASA_Johnson in August 2017. https://t.co/JzhsmlQCac pic.twitter.com/OTwcYd8RgX
—@csa_asc
Trudeauannounced Sidey and Kutryk as the newest members of the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut team after Ontario-born singerShania introduced budding astronautsJulietMunn-Lenzof Grand Prairie,Alta.andSahanaKhatriofVaudreuil, Que. Twain told the two youngsters and Canadians that you're never too young to start following your dreams.
Sidey and Kutrykwere chosen from an initial pool of 3,772 applicants who met theminimum criteria set out by the CSA.
Sidey told the crowd in Ottawa on Saturday that she was inspired to become an astronaut in 1992 when Roberta Bondar went into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery. She said she had the opportunity to attend a speech in Calgary by Canada's first female astronaut.
"I'm grateful to have had that role model and that memory makes this moment so powerful for me."
Kutryk, for his part, said he is honoured to be joining the Canadian Space Agency.
"Throughout the recruitment campaign, Jenniand I met some amazing Canadians, scientists, doctors, engineers, pilots like myself. There is so much talent in this country," he said.
"I stand on the shoulders of the great Canadian astronauts before me, they inspired me to be the best that I could be."
Sidey and Kutryk will be reporting for training at Johnston Space Centre in Houston later this month.
The two-year training program the pair will undergo includes instruction on systems on the International Space Station, spacewalks and Russian language training.
With files from CBC News