There was a celebration in Ottawa on Thursday for one of Canada’s most recognizable scientific achievements, but Canada’s first astronaut in space, Marc Garneau, wasn’t invited.
Canadarm, the famous robotic arm that flew aboard 90 space shuttle flights, found a new home Thursday at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
Some of those in attendance included the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Acting President of the Space Agency Gilles Leclerc, and commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield, via the Sky Monitor.
Outside Parliament Thursday afternoon, Garneau acknowledged his displeasure: “I do feel seriously insulted,” he said. “It’s because of my efforts that the arm is in the museum here in Ottawa, rather than being at the Canadian Space Agency where nobody would have seen it.”
Garneau, who is the Liberal Critic for Industry, Science and Technology and serves as the MP for Westmount—Ville-Marie in Quebec, was the president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005.
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