Longueuil, Quebec, February 29, 2008 – The Canadian Space Agency announced today that Dr. Dafydd "Dave" Williams will be retiring from active astronaut status, effective March 1, 2008.
"Dr. Dave Williams has led a distinguished career in service to Canada and Canadians," said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and the Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency. "Over the past decade, his achievements have helped position Canada as a leading space-faring nation, driving science and innovation, while actively inspiring young people across our country to take their place as members of Canada's next space generation."
In his impressive career as a member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps, Dr. Williams flew two Space Shuttle Missions.
Selected as an astronaut by the Canadian Space Agency in 1992, Dr. Williams participated in Neurolab, a 16-day mission in 1998, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. He and seven crewmembers served as both experiment subjects and operators for 26 life science experiments focused on the effects of microgravity on the brain and the nervous system.
Dr. Williams was appointed Director of NASA's Space and Life Sciences Directorate at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and then Deputy Associate Administrator for Crew Health and Safety of the Office of Space Flight at NASA Headquarters, while he continued active astronaut training.
Dr. Williams has also participated in two underwater missions, one as Commander. The NEEMO missions assessed the potential of space-delivered tele-medicine as a way to deliver medical care to remote locations, important, as well, for the future of extended spaceflight.
In August 2007, Dr. Williams completed his second spaceflight as a mission specialist on STS-118, where he established a Canadian record of 17 hours and 47 minutes in three spacewalks accomplished in one mission, supporting construction of the International Space Station.
In all Dr. Dave Williams has flown more than 18 million kilometres and spent 28 days, 15 hours, 45 minutes and 33 seconds in space.
Dr. Williams and family will be moving to Ontario where he will be exploring various career options.
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For information:
www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/astronauts/biowilliams.asp
Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Telephone: (450) 926-4370
