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Canadian Space Agency

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

MONTREAL, December 5, 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 Calgary on December 9 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:  Monday, December 9, 2002
               
WHERE: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. 
        300 elementary school students
        Erin Woods Elementary School
        25 Erin Park Drive S.E.
        Calgary
        11:30 to 12:30 p.m.
        300 grade-9 and -10 students
        Bishop O'Bryne School
        500 333 Shawville blvd. S.E.
        Calgary

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

Anna Relyea
Heinz Canada
Cel. : (416) 708-2644

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