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Canadian Space Agency

Press Release
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Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Bob Thirsk in Winnipeg for One Day 
Only to Kick off Two-Year Canada-wide Space Education Project

MONTREAL, December 3, 2002 - When the first manned spaceship leaves 
Earth for Mars the astronauts may be growing and eating Canadian 
tomatoes in space. In preparation for that voyage, Canadian Astronaut 
Dr. Bob Thirsk will be in Winnipeg on December 5 to give a briefing to 
students about "Mission to Mars," a cross-Canada research/education 
project.  

Doctor Thirsk will be available for interviews before and after his 
speaking engagements.  Reporters are welcome to cover his appearances. 

WHO:  Dr. Bob Thirsk - Canadian Space Agency Astronaut

WHAT: Dr. Bob Thirsk will talk to students about space farming on the 
      red planet. He will encourage the students to participate in a 
      research program called Tomatosphere, "Mission to Mars" in which 
      children from 5,000 classes across Canada will engage in 
      hands-on experimentation with tomato seeds exposed to a 
      simulated Martian environment.

WHEN: Thursday, December 5, 2002
              
WHERE: 	9:30 to 10:30 a.m. 
          180 grade-5 and -6 students
          Museum of Man & Nature
          190 Rupert Avenue
          Winnipeg  
          1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
          180 grade-9 and -10 students
          Calvin High School
          155 Kingsway St.
          Winnipeg

Tomatosphere, "Mission to Mars" is a national educational outreach 
program sponsored by the Canadian Space Agency, Agriculture and 
Agri-Food Canada, Heinz Canada, the Centre for Research in Earth and 
Space Technology (CRESTech), and the University of Guelph.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact: 

Monique Billette
Senior Media Relations Officer
Canadian Space Agency
Phone:	450-926-4370
E-mail: monique.billette{at}space.gc.ca

Sue Granville
GPC International
Phone: 613-238-1091

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