Steve MacLean (astronaut)

Steve MacLean (astronaut) is a Canadian physicist and former astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency. Selected in 1983, he flew on two NASA Space Shuttle missions, including a pivotal assembly flight to the International Space Station. Following his spaceflight career, he served as President of the Canadian Space Agency from 2008 to 2013.

Early life and education

Steve MacLean was born on December 14, 1954, in Ottawa, Ontario. He developed an early interest in science and athletics, becoming a national champion in trampolining. He pursued higher education at York University in Toronto, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1977. He continued his graduate studies at the same institution, receiving a Master of Science in 1978 and a Doctor of Philosophy in physics in 1983, focusing on laser physics.

NASA career

MacLean was one of the first six astronauts selected by the newly formed Canadian Space Agency in December 1983. He began astronaut training in February 1984. His initial technical assignments with NASA at the Johnson Space Center included supporting shuttle missions as a crew representative for development of the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (Canadarm). He served as a backup payload specialist for the International Microgravity Laboratory mission flown on STS-42 in 1992. In 1993, he was assigned as a mission specialist and began formal training at NASA.

Spaceflight experience

MacLean's first spaceflight was as a payload specialist on Space Shuttle Columbia mission STS-52 in October 1992. The primary objectives included deploying the LAGEOS II satellite and conducting extensive experiments in the CANEX-2 payload, which studied materials science, space technology, and atmospheric observations. He operated the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System and the Space Vision System, a Canadian-developed machine vision technology.

His second and final mission was as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Atlantis for STS-115 in September 2006. This was a crucial assembly mission to the International Space Station, delivering and installing the integrated P3/P4 truss and its solar arrays. During the flight, MacLean performed two spacewalks, becoming the second Canadian to conduct an extravehicular activity. He operated both the shuttle's Canadarm and the station's Canadarm2 during the complex construction tasks.

Post-NASA career and awards

After his flight on STS-115, MacLean served as Chief Scientist for the Canadian Space Agency from 2006 to 2008. He was appointed President of the Canadian Space Agency in September 2008, a position he held until 2013, overseeing programs such as the Radarsat Constellation Mission. He officially retired from the astronaut corps on February 1, 2014. His numerous honors include being appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada and receiving the NASA Space Flight Medal twice, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Vanier Award.

Personal life

Steve MacLean is married and has children. An avid athlete, he maintained a high level of physical fitness throughout his career, with interests in skiing, scuba diving, and flying. He is a certified pilot and has also been involved in promoting science education and outreach in Canada.

Category:Canadian astronauts Category:Officers of the Order of Canada Category:NASA astronauts Category:1954 births Category:Living people