:Roberta Bondar

{{Infobox astronaut

| name = Roberta Bondar

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=CAN|CC|OOnt|FRCPC|FRSC}}

| image = Roberta Bondar2.jpg

| caption = Bondar in 1991

| status = Retired

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1945|12|4}}{{cite web|title=Biography of Roberta Lynn Bondar|url=http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/former/bio-roberta-bondar.asp|website=asc-csa.gc.ca|date=November 12, 2003}}

| birth_place = Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

| occupation = {{cslist|Neurologist|scientist|educator|author|photographer|astronaut}}

| selection = 1983 NRC Group

| time = 8 days, 1 hour, 14 minutes

| mission = STS-42

| insignia = 55px

| alma_mater = {{ubl|University of Guelph (BSc)|University of Western Ontario (MSc)|University of Toronto (PhD)|McMaster University (MD)}}

| module =

{{Infobox scientist

| embed = yes

| fields = Neurobiology

| workplaces =

| thesis_title = Neurofibrillar and neurofilamentous changes in goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) in relation to temperature

| thesis_url =

| thesis_year = 1974

| doctoral_advisor = Betty Ida Roots

| academic_advisors =

| doctoral_students =

| notable_students =

| known_for =

| awards =

}}

Roberta Lynn Bondar ({{IPAc-en|'|b|ɒ|n|d|ər}}; born December 4, 1945) is a Canadian astronaut, neurologist and consultant. She is Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space.

After more than a decade as head of an international space medicine research team collaborating with NASA, Bondar became a consultant and speaker in the business, scientific, and medical communities.

Roberta Bondar has received many honours including appointment as a Companion of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, the NASA Space Flight Medal, over 28 honorary degrees, induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, the International Women's Forum Hall of Fame and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.{{cite web | url=http://www.city.sault-ste-marie.on.ca/library/Bondar_Bio.html | title=Biography | publisher=Sault Ste. Marie Public Library | access-date=April 17, 2011 | archive-date=September 28, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928000816/http://www.city.sault-ste-marie.on.ca/library/Bondar_Bio.html | url-status=dead }}

Early life and education

Bondar was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on December 4, 1945.{{cite web|url=http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/biobondar.asp|title=Biography of Roberta Bondar|date=November 12, 2003|publisher=Canadian Space Agency|access-date=September 20, 2016}} Her father, who worked for the Sault Ste. Marie Public Utilities Commission, is of Ukrainian descent, and her mother, an educator, is of English descent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityssm.on.ca/library/Bondar_Bio.html|title=Roberta Bondar – Biography|website=www.cityssm.on.ca|access-date=March 5, 2020|archive-date=May 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531174607/http://www.cityssm.on.ca/library/Bondar_Bio.html|url-status=dead}}

Bondar's love of the sciences began as a child. Her father built a lab in the basement where she frequently conducted experiments. Bondar dreamed of becoming an astronaut.{{Cite book|last=Gibson|first=Karen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWaeAgAAQBAJ&q=bondar&pg=PA171|title=Women in Space: 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures|date=February 1, 2014|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=978-1-61374-847-3|language=en}}

Because of her determination to prove her capability as a woman, Bondar received an extensive education. She graduated from Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie in 1964. She holds a Bachelor of Science in zoology and agriculture from the University of Guelph (1968), a Master of Science in experimental pathology from the University of Western Ontario (1971), a Doctor of Philosophy in neuroscience from the University of Toronto (1974), and a Doctor of Medicine from McMaster University (1977). Part of Bondar's undergraduate research experience includes working with the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Forestry.{{Cite web|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=BIC&u=vic_ehc&id=GALE%7CK1619001542&v=2.1&it=r&sid=BIC&asid=2acb1590|title=Gale In Context: Biography – Document – Roberta L. Bondar|website=go.gale.com|access-date=March 6, 2020}}

Career

As one of the first six members of the Canadian Astronaut Corps selected in 1983, Bondar began astronaut training in 1984, and in 1992 she was designated Payload Specialist for the first International Microgravity Laboratory Mission (IML-1).{{cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/roberta-bondar-profile-511052|title=Who is Dr. Roberta Bondar?|website=ThoughtCo}} Bondar flew on the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery during Mission STS-42, January 22–30, 1992, during which she performed over 40 experiments in the Spacelab.{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/bondar_roberta.htm|title=Astronaut Biography: Roberta Bondar|first=Joachim|last=Becker|website=spacefacts.de}} Her work studying the effects of low-gravity situations on the human body allowed NASA to prepare astronauts for long stays in the space station.File:Roberta Bondar 2007.jpg

After her astronaut career, Bondar led an international team of researchers at NASA for more than a decade, examining data obtained from astronauts on space missions to better understand the mechanisms underlying the body's ability to recover from exposure to space.R. Hughson and R. Bondar Autonomic nervous system function in space, in Handbook of Clinical Neurology (O. Appenzeller, ed.), Vol. 74 (30): 273‐305, 1999. Bondar's research in space recovery considered the linkage to Parkinson's disease in addition to other neurological effects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nsb.com/speakers/roberta-bondar/|title=Roberta Bondar {{!}} Speaker, Astronaut, Women in STEM Advocate & Nature Photographer|website=National Speakers Bureau|language=en|access-date=March 5, 2020}}

Bondar pursued her interests in photography with an emphasis on natural environments; she was an Honors student in Professional Nature Photography at the Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, California. She is the author of four photo essay books that feature her photography of the Earth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.therobertabondarfoundation.org/about-roberta/dr-roberta-bondar-as-photographer/|title=Dr Roberta Bondar as Photographer {{!}} The Roberta Bondar Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=March 25, 2020}} These published books include Landscape of Dreams, Passionate Vision: Discovering Canada's National Parks, The Arid Edge of Earth, and Touching the Earth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/roberta-bondar-profile-511052|title=Who is Dr. Roberta Bondar?|last=B. A.|first=Political Science|website=ThoughtCo|language=en|access-date=February 25, 2020}} Bondar was also a certified sky diver, underwater diver and private pilot.

Bondar has also been a consultant and speaker to diverse organizations, drawing on her expertise as an astronaut, physician, scientific researcher, photographer, author, environment interpreter, and team leader. Not only can interviews from radio and TV be found of Bondar, but she also played a role in the movie Destiny in Space. Furthermore, Bondar's expertise was consulted in programs that captured both the literal and figurative takeoff of groundbreaking science—that is, the space shuttle.{{cite press release|title=Dr. Roberta Bondar appointed Chancellor of Trent University|publisher=Trent University|date=January 31, 2003|url=http://www.trentu.ca/news/pressreleases/030121rbondar.html|access-date=April 17, 2011}}

In 2009, Bondar registered The Roberta Bondar Foundation as a not-for-profit charity.{{cite web|url=http://www.therobertabondarfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/|title=About The Foundation – The Roberta Bondar Foundation|website=therobertabondarfoundation.org}} The foundation focuses on environmental awareness.

Honours, awards, and tributes

Bondar is the recipient of multiple honours and awards from organizations and universities across Canada. These honours include the Vanier Award in 1985 and the F.W. (Casey) Baldwin Award in 1985.{{Cite web |title=Payload Specialist Astronaut Bio: R. Bondar 7/97 |url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/PS/bondar.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818083115/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/PS/bondar.html |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=jsc.nasa.gov |language=English}}

Bondar was the first astronaut to receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. It was inducted on October 1, 2011, at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nellies.org/2015/03/09/womens-history-month-roberta-bondar/|title=Women's History Month – Roberta Bondar|date=March 9, 2015|website=Nellies|language=en-US|access-date=March 20, 2020}}

The Roberta Bondar Park and Tent Pavilion is located in Bondar's home town (Sault Ste. Marie) in honour of the first female astronaut.{{Cite web|url=https://saultstemarie.ca/City-Hall/City-Departments/Community-Development-Enterprise-Services/Community-Services/Recreation-and-Culture/Roberta-Bondar-Park.aspx|title=Roberta Bondar Park|website=Sault Ste. Marie|access-date=March 3, 2020}} Bondar also has multiple public schools named after her.

Bondar served two terms as the Chancellor of Trent University, from 2003 to 2009.

In 2009, Concordia University awarded Bondar the prestigious Loyola Medal.{{cite web|url=https://www.concordia.ca/alumni-friends/applause/search/roberta-bondar.html|title=Roberta Bondar|publisher=Concordia University|access-date=August 17, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818033934/https://www.concordia.ca/alumni-friends/applause/search/roberta-bondar.html|url-status=dead}}

In 2017, the Royal Canadian Mint released a limited edition 25th anniversary $25 coin entitled "A View of Canada from Space". The unveiling of this honour was done in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie at Sault College on November 1, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/first-of-its-kind-coin-honours-bondar-astronaut-says-sault-will-always-be-home-3-photos-453173/ |title=First of its kind coin honours Bondar; astronaut says Sault will always be home (3 photos) |date=November 1, 2016 |publisher=Sootoday.com |access-date=August 31, 2023}}

In 2018, Thebacha and Wood Buffalo Astronomical Society renamed its observatory to The Dr. Roberta Bondar Northern Observatory.{{cite web|url=https://cabinradio.ca/8908/news/south-slave/fort-smith-observatory-named-for-canadas-first-female-astronaut/ |title=Fort Smith observatory named for Canada's first female astronaut |date=August 25, 2018 |publisher=Cabinradio.ca |access-date=August 28, 2018}}

Organizations

class="wikitable"

!Status

!Organization

Fellow

|Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Member

|American Academy of Neurology

Member

|Canadian Neurological Society

Member

|Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute

Member

|Canadian Society of Aerospace Medicine

Member

|College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Member

|Canadian Stroke Society

Member

|Aerospace Medical Association

Member

|Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association

Member

|American Society for Gravitational and Space Biology{{Cite web|url=https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/former/bio-roberta-bondar.asp|title=Biography of Roberta Lynn Bondar|date=November 12, 2003|website=www.asc-csa.gc.ca|access-date=March 20, 2020}}

References

External links

[http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/biobondar.asp CSA biography]
[http://www.robertabondar.com/ Bondar's home page]
[http://www.techlifemag.ca/bondar.htm Video: Roberta Bondar on patriotism following the Olympics & her favourite technology] (from NAIT's techlife magazine)
[https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/first-of-its-kind-coin-honours-bondar-astronaut-says-sault-will-always-be-home-3-photos-453173 Coin Honours Bondar]
[https://www.therobertabondarfoundation.org/about-roberta/ The Roberta Bondar Foundation]
[http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/PS/bondar.html National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Biography of Roberta Bondar]