Table of Contents

Official Flying Kit

Astronauts can take a small number of items with them into space as mementos of their mission. The objects are meaningful for the astronaut personally, for the Canadian Space Program in general, or, since the lives of astronauts are closely tied to the space program, a combination of the two. After the mission, they are returned to the contributing organizations. This is a list of the objects flying with astronaut Steve MacLean on Space Shuttle Atlantis.

1. York University

The dried apple and seed in Steve MacLean's Official Flying Kit are the fruit of Newton's Apple trees on the campus of York University. They are descendents of the one from which an apple fell and, so it is said, inspired Sir Isaac Newton's musings on the force gravity. The three "Flower of Kent" apple trees were planted near the Department of Physics and Astronomy in 1999 to mark the university's 40th anniversary. MacLean received a doctorate in physics in 1983 from York.

2. Yes I Can! Program

The banner contributed for the kit commemorates the "Structures in Space" resource package for educators this organization created for mission STS-115. Steve MacLean was the subject-matter expert for the development of the resource and plans to conduct one of its activities during his space mission so students can have comparative data from a weightless environment. Yes I Can! Science resources help foster a culture of scientifically literate, life-long learners. The science team is made up of scientists and teaching professionals from across Canada.

3. Mount Everest Expedition

The small rock in the kit comes from the summit of Mount Everest. Contributor Bernard Voyer is one of Canada's greatest explorers and climbers. He was the first North American to climb the highest peaks of the seven continents and reach the world's two poles.

4. Observatoire populaire du Mont-Mégantic

The observatory at the summit of Mont-Mégantic and spectators on the printed cloth banner show how the story of the universe is read from Earth. The observatory is part of a provincial park near Notre-Dame-des-Bois, Quebec, and Steve MacLean serves on its Board.

5. City of Longueuil

A banner bearing the emblem of the city of Longueuil, home of Canadian Space Agency headquarters, was contributed for the mission.

6. City of Saint-Lambert

A banner bearing the emblem of the town where Steve MacLean's family lives will fly into space with him.

7. Resolute Bay

This remote northern city is a stopping point for researchers working at the Haughton crater on Devon Island on Mars research.

8. Nunavut

The territory of Nunavut receives many space researchers each year as they make their way to the Mars research project site on Devon Island. The extreme climate conditions in the High Arctic are favourable for studying technologies that could be used on the Red Planet.

9. Hamlet of Grise Fjord, Nunavut

The muskox (umimmak, in Inuktitut) and text in English and Inuktitut syllabics were embroidered by Geela Qaapik on this crest. It was contributed by the students, staff, and principal Avalon Smith at Umimmak School in Canada's northernmost community. Situated on the southern side of Baffin Island, Grise Fjord grants researchers access to Devon Island and Haughton Crater that serves as an analogue site for Mars in research activities, such as Canada's Arthur Clarke Mars Greenhouse.

10. Canadian Library Association

This organization's emblem goes to space with MacLean to mark the contests for the STS-115 mission in public libraries across Canada. "Launch your future with reading" runs August 27 to September 30, 2006

11. Royal Canadian Geographical Society

The Society pin marks the importance of Steve MacLean's mission task to take high-resolution images of Canadian geological features. By compiling his snapshots with satellite data, scientists hope to shed some light on the impact of deforestation and global warming on environmental conditions in the country.

12. Gymnastics Canada

As a former gymnast and someone who is passionate about gymnastics to this day, Steve MacLean was delighted to include a pennant in the Official Flying Kit. Committed to guiding the development of national programs in all areas of gymnastics, Gymnastics Canada supports over 700 local clubs across the country.

13. Vancouver 2010

The Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2010, but the flag will have already flown in space with an astronaut committed to promoting gymnastics and other sports in Canada.

14. International Polar Year Canada

The first International Polar Year over 125 years ago was inspired by an Austro-Hungarian naval officer, Karl Weyprecht, who believed that the poles are key to some secrets of the Earth sciences. He felt, as many space mission planners do today, that an international effort was needed. Canada is a lead organizer for the fourth International Polar Year in 2007-2008, and the scientific, environmental, economic, social, cultural, and political aspects of rapidly changing northern life are a focus.

15. Canadian Heroes

Steve MacLean is honoured to have been entrusted with the flag of the Third Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, first raised in 2002 in Khandahar. He takes it into space as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty in Afghanistan and the tremendous courage shown by all Canadian troops. It will be presented to the Battalion during his post-mission tour.