Starmus VIII
Julie Payette is a Canadian astronaut, engineer, and scientist who flew on two Space Shuttle missions and spent more than 25 days in space. After joining the Canadian Space Agency in 1992, she worked on robotics operations for the International Space Station and flew aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and Endeavour. From 2017 to 2021 she served as the 29th Governor General of Canada. Payette is a member of the Association of Space Explorers, the global organization of astronauts co-founded by Alexei Leonov, a key figure in the history of STARMUS. She is a strong advocate for science education, exploration, and international cooperation in space.
