May 13, 2009 – Nearly 25 years after the first Canadian astronaut flew into space and only weeks before two Canadian space veterans launch to the International Space Station, the Honourable Industry Minister Tony Clement and Canadian Space Agency President Steve MacLean revealed the names of Canada's newest astronauts: Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques.

• Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada
• Photos - The Prime Minister meets Canada's two newest astronauts

From March 16 to 20, 2009, the top 16 candidates were submitted to a series of medical and psychological exams at the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and the North York General Hospital in Toronto, ON to evaluate their medical health.

• Low resolution video (4.9 Mb)

March 2009 – CSA President Steve MacLean introduced the top 16 candidates in the Agency's National Astronaut Recruitment Campaign. "The Top 16 candidates in the National Astronaut Recruitment Campaign represent an incredibly accomplished, well-rounded and diverse group of Canadians," said MacLean. "This is only the third Astronaut Recruitment Campaign held in Canadian history. As we proceed with our selection process, two of these highly talented individuals will be chosen for the opportunity of a lifetime."

• Biographies and pictures of the top 16 candidates
• Recruitment Campaign Fact sheet
• High resolution video recap of the campaign (14.2 Mb)
• Low resolution video recap of the campaign (4 Mb)
• Press conference video (52.2 Mb)

In February 2009, the 31 candidates still in the running faced a battery of tests, from emergency management and first aid, to damage control.

• Windows Media video (1.54 Mb)
• Quicktime video (6.15 Mb)

In January 2009, the top forty candidates completed robotics and fitness tests. The evaluations took place in the Montreal area and it was the first time candidates were brought together for testing since the beginning of the campaign.

November 2008 – The Astronaut Recruitment Campaign well underway

A record 5351 potential astronaut candidates submitted applications online when the campaign was launched in May 2008. Following the first phase of evaluations, 78 applicants from across the country were selected to move forward to the next round in the evaluation process. They underwent preliminary interviews and medical tests.

March 31, 2008 – The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and Steve MacLean, CSA Chief Astronaut, launched Canada's third National Astronaut Recruitment Campaign. Read more