ICWES 12 - Julie Payette's Biography

Julie Payette's Biography

Personal data: Born October 20, 1963, in Montreal, Quebec. Enjoys running, skiing, racquet sports and scuba diving. Holds a multi-engine commercial pilot license with instrument and float ratings.

Plays piano and has sung with the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra Chamber Choir, the Piacere Vocale in Basel, Switzerland, and with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Choir in Toronto, Canada. Fluent in French and English, and conversational in Spanish, Italian and Russian.

Education: Primary and secondary school in Montreal, Quebec. International Baccalaureate (1982) at the United World College of the Atlantic in South Wales, UK. Bachelor of Engineering - Electrical (1986) from McGill University, Montreal and Master of Applied Science - Computer Engineering (1990) from the University of Toronto.

Organizations: Member of l'Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec. Appointed member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada in 1995. Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Member of Les Amies d'affaires du Ritz. Member of the Board of Directors, United World Colleges (International).

Special honours: Received one of only six available Canadian scholarships to attend the International UWC College of the Atlantic in South Wales, UK (1980). Greville-Smith Scholarship (1982-1986), the highest undergraduate award at McGill University. McGill Faculty Scholar (1983-1986), graduated with distinction in 1986. NSERC post-graduate Scholarship (1988-1990). Massey College Fellowship - University of Toronto (1988-1990). Canadian Council of Professional Engineers 1994 distinction for exceptional achievement by a young engineer. Honorary degrees (Doctor Honoris Causa): Queens University (1999); University of Ottawa (1999); Université Laval (2000); Simon Fraser University, BC (2000); University of Regina (2001); Royal Roads University (2001); University of Toronto (2001). Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Pléiade de la francophonie (2000). L'Ordre national du Québec (2000).

Experience: Before joining the space program, Ms. Payette conducted research in computer systems, natural language processing, automatic speech recognition and the application of interactive technology in space. System engineer, IBM Canada (1986-88). Research assistant, University of Toronto (1988-90). Visiting scientist, IBM Research Laboratory, Zurich, Switzerland (1991). Research engineer, Speech Research Group, Bell-Northern Nortel Research, Montreal (1992).

Ms. Payette was selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as one of four astronauts amongst a field of 5,330 applicants in June 1992. After undergoing basic training, she worked as a technical advisor for the MSS (Mobile Servicing System), a robotic system that constitutes the Canadian contribution to the International Space Station. In 1993, Ms. Payette established the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Group at the Canadian Astronaut Office and served as a technical specialist on the NATO International Research Study Group (RSG-10) on speech processing (1993-1996).

While training in Canada, Ms. Payette obtained her commercial pilot licence, studied Russian and logged over 120 hours of reduced gravity flight time aboard various microgravity aircraft. In April 1996, Ms. Payette completed a deep-sea diving hard suit training program in Vancouver, B.C. and was certified as a one-atmosphere diving suit operator (NEWTSUIT Level 2). Ms. Payette obtained her captaincy on the CT-114 military jet at the Canadian Air Force Base in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in February 1996. She obtained her military instrument rating in 1997 and continues to fly with the training squadron whenever possible. Ms. Payette has logged more than 800 hours of flight time, including 450 hours on jet aircraft.

NASA experience: Ms. Payette reported to the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas in August 1996. She completed initial astronaut training in April 1998 and was assigned to work technical issues in space robotics for the NASA Astronaut Office.

Julie Payette flew on Space Shuttle Discovery from May 27 to June 6, 1999 as part of the crew of STS-96. During the 10-day mission, the crew performed the first manual docking of the Shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS), and delivered 4 tons of logistics and supplies. Aboard the Space Shuttle, Ms. Payette served as a mission specialist and was only the third Canadian to operate the Canadarm on orbit. The STS-96 mission was accomplished in 153 orbits of the Earth, travelling 6 million kilometres in 9 days, 19 hours and 13 minutes. Ms. Payette became the first Canadian to participate in an ISS assembly mission and to enter inside the Station.

Since September 2000, Ms. Payette is the Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency. She currently works as a liaison officer and member of the Crew Test Support Team, responsible for ISS test activities, in Russia and in Europe. She is dividing her time between this work and training in Houston.