Marc Garneau, first Canadian in space, remembered for aspirations he held for his country

Marc Garneau was the most visible symbol of Canada’s space program, first as an astronaut and then as the president of the Canadian Space Agency.

CHRIS O'MEARA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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If there was ever a before-and-after moment in the life of Canada’s first space traveller, it came on Oct. 5, 1984, about 25 minutes after the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

By then the deafening roar of the engines had given way to a sudden silence. On board, Marc Garneau and his crewmates had unbuckled themselves from their seats and he was experiencing weightlessness for the first time.