A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream

MARC GARNEAU distinguished himself in three distinct fields. As a naval officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, he spent ten years as a combat systems engineer. In 1984, Garneau became the first Canadian astronaut to go to space and, from 2001 to 2005, was president of the Canadian Space Agency. As a federal politician, he served as Liberal House leader, Minister of Transport, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Marc Garneau died in June 2025, and is survived by his wife and four children.