The Royal Canadian Mint has announced it will unveil a one-ounce silver collector coin celebrating the 25th anniversary of Dr. Roberta Bondar’s Space Shuttle Mission in her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., this morning at 10:30 a.m.
Bondar, who’s slated to attend the unveiling, will be joined by Mint President and CEO Sandra Hanington; Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan; and Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Christian Provenzano. The unveiling will take place in Sault College’s Multimedia Room (Building B, Room B1170) on 443 Northern Ave.
CSA MISSION SPECIALIST
A Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Mission Specialist, Bondar blasted into space from the Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 22, 1992, beginning an eight-day flight aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery with six other astronauts. While in space, she performed life- and material-science experiments. Not only did she become Canada’s first woman astronaut, she was also the world’s first neurologist in space. She continues to inspire and encourage people of all ages to reach for the stars.
In 2014, the CSA celebrate its 25th anniversary, which was commemorated by the Mint with a Fine silver coin featuring an achromatic hologram that brings the CSA’s work to life.
According to a press release issued by the Roberta Bondar Foundation, the 70-year-old former astronaut was “touched” to learn her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie was chosen as the location to unveil the Mint’s new commemorative coin. Several special guests, many of whom attended the launch of her space flight aboard Shuttle Discovery in 1992, will be in attendance.
“Recognizing this historic moment in Canadian history in this way is such a deserving tribute,” said Elaine Paterson, Roberta Bondar Foundation board member. “I was at the launch 25 years ago and it was mind blowing then and she continues to be out of this world in her many contributions to the world today.”
The forthcoming coin will have a denomination of $25, a 36-mm diameter, and a mintage of 8,500 pieces.