Yellowknifer shortlisted for space
Capt. Nathalie Sleno one of 32 finalists to become an astronaut
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Capt. Nathalie Sleno's intrigue with space exploration began as a little girl.
Capt. Nathalie Sleno, a medical officer with the Canadian Armed Forces in Yellowknife, has been shortlisted to the top 32 candidates to be Canada's next astronaut. She has spent her career working toward becoming an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo |
"I loved the idea of being up and above everything else," she said. "I would stare at the sky in the day, and I would stare at the sky at night and try to find the satellites."
Now, the Yellowknife resident has a serious shot at being Canada's next astronaut.
Last year, the Canadian Armed Forces captain sent out an application to become an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency. She was one of 4,000 candidates, of which the agency will select two. Sleno watched as a friend of hers was selected for the top 600, and another friend made the top 200.
Meanwhile, she was waiting to hear any news.
"I didn't hear anything for a long time," she said.
"I only knew things were happening because I had heard through the grapevine that others were not making it ... Then one day in my inbox, I see this message that says, 'Astronaut' in the subject line. It said, 'Congratulations, you've made it to the top 100.'"
From the top 100 candidates, Sleno was still in the game when the list shortened to 72. And as of March 15, she is in the top 32.
On top of a career as a military medical officer, she is a pilot, doctor, teacher and mother of seven children.
"As I was growing up, my drive was always to do more," she said. "I loved the challenge, and I loved the change that offered."
Sleno got her private pilot license when she was young and began flying for the Canadian Armed Forces.
After graduating from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of science, she started work as a medical officer in the military, later completing her residency and receiving a doctorate in medicine from the University of Winnipeg.
While earning her medical degree, she had the opportunity to do a rotation at the Kennedy Space Center, where she spent a month studying the effects of space travel on the human body.
"The rotation with NASA was an awesome experience, and these pieces kept fueling this idea that (becoming an astronaut) might be possible," she said.
As one of Canada's top astronaut candidates, Sleno has been through the ringer.
To determine the most qualified individuals, the agency puts the finalists through a series of intense physical, intellectual and psychological challenges, including interviews and security clearances.
If successful, Sleno will begin her job as Canada's next astronaut in August, where she will join colleagues David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen, who the agency recruited the last time Canada selected astronauts in 2009.
Saint-Jacques is scheduled to fly to space in November 2018 with Hansen expected to follow in 2024.
So what is Sleno's advice to anyone contemplating space exploration?
Do what you love.
"Every step of the way I have been certain of and I've enjoyed it all," she said.
"I don't think I could have done it if I didn't enjoy it along the way. And when you look at the other candidates, that seems to be a common theme."
"Give it your best because you never know when the opportunities are going to be there ... I set myself up not knowing this was a possibility, but giving it my best at every step of the way has made me a viable candidate."
