Marc Garneau left lasting legacy on Earth and in space, former colleagues say
MONTREAL — Canadian scientists working on asteroid missions, exploring the universe through the James Webb Space Telescope or helping to put rovers on Mars say they can in some way thank Marc Garneau, who left an enduring legacy both as an astronaut and head of the country's space agency.
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While best-known in later years as a federal cabinet minister, Garneau, who died this week at 76, was also a Navy officer, a systems engineer, and an astronaut with a lifelong passion for science, according to his friends and colleagues.
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In 1984, he made history as the first Canadian in space when he served as a payload specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger. He returned to space twice more, in 1996 and 2000, before serving as the president of the Canadian Space Agency from 2001 to 2005.
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'All his life was devoted to public service,' said Gilles Leclerc, an ex-CSA official who worked with him. 'And he was really a role model to all the Canadian astronauts who came after him.'
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As CSA president, Garneau laid the building blocks for the space exploration program that would bring together other initiatives previously developed separately, Leclerc said.
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He was also 'ahead of his time' when it came to being conscious of the environment and understanding the importance of applying space technology for practical uses such as satellite communications.
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'During his tenure, he really wanted us to focus more on science: astronomy, planetary science, lunar exploration,' Leclerc said in a phone interview.
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'So all these things that now we see, all these missions that Canada participated in, like a mission to the asteroids, two missions to Mars, the James Webb Space Telescope…Marc had a real strong influence in shaping the future of the space program for a long time.'
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On Friday, CSA President Lisa Campbell paid tribute to Garneau, who she called a 'cherished member of the space agency family.'
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Garneau would carry his love of science — as well as his significant technical knowledge — into his next role as a politician, according to his former chief of staff and close personal friend.
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