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Sask. pilot in top 17 finalists for Canada’s next astronaut

Apr 24, 2017 | 11:31 AM

The dream of making it to space is still alive for a Saskatchewan man.

Jason Leuschen is now one of 17 people left in the running to become Canada’s next astronaut.

The Canadian Forces pilot was born in British Columbia, but moved with his family to a farm in Bruno, east of Saskatoon, at the age of three.

“I really fell in love with the sky, spent a lot of time staring up at it,” he told 650 CKOM News in February.

“The stories of people who got to go up there and work sounded pretty awesome to me. It sounded like the way to go.”

The University of Saskatchewan engineering graduate made the list from a pool of around 3,700 entries.
Leuschen said since he was named to the first shortlist in February, he’s heard from old friends in Bruno – population of around 574 – on social media, where he’s chronically his training.

While he’s been public about the challenging nature of the astronaut testing, there’s plenty Leuschen can’t disclose about his training.

“They want to keep you off balance and under stress the whole time,” he said in March. “They’re looking to make cuts.”

The Canadian Space Agency is set to announce the two winners this summer.

 

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