Astronaut candidate's profile
The candidates participating in the astronaut selection process all have unique journeys and outstanding qualities and skills. You can read their remarkable profiles here.
Spencer, Kevin
Where were you born?
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
Where do you currently live?
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Education
- Diploma, engineering – St. Francis Xavier University
- Bachelor's, mechanical engineering – Technical University of Nova Scotia
- Doctorate, medicine – Dalhousie University
- Diploma, advanced care paramedic – Center for Emergency Medicine
Photo of the astronaut candidate during the aptitude tests. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
What is your current job?
Emergency department physician and mechanical engineer - I am a full-time emergency department physician and a mechanical engineer. I also have university academic appointments as assistant professor of emergency medicine and director of simulation education. Through these, I teach medical students and other physicians. I am also developing a biotechnology start-up company.
A typical day in the emergency department involves multitasking and troubleshooting in order to deal with a wide range of illnesses and injuries. We frequently manage crisis situations and need to make calculated decisions rapidly with limited information. We are a high-functioning and professional team, but we also know how to have fun!
Why do you want to become an astronaut?
Who doesn't want to be an astronaut? It's the coolest science career in the universe! I want to become an astronaut because I love adventure and testing my limits. I find it captivating to imagine all these things waiting to be discovered through the pursuit of space exploration. I want to help develop medical and mechanical technologies for exploring extreme environments, and I want to contribute to our knowledge about the universe. This career represents the ultimate opportunity for my adventurous spirit and my engineering, technical, and medical skills.