NEWS BRIEFS

STS-78 UPDATE

Shuttle mission STS-78 with Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk passed its midway point recently. The 16 day mission is proceeding as planned.

Thirsk's main involvement is the Torso Rotation Experiment for which his body, head and eye movements are continuously monitored. More information and daily status reports on the Torso Rotation Experiment, can be found on the web at:

http://www.space.ca/csa/sls/tre-e.html

Thirsk is also involved in the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment for which contacts have been planned for Maple Grove Education Centre in Nova Scotia, Canada and the Saskatoon Public AreospaCe Education (S.P.A.C.E.) Saskatchewan, Canada. He will also be making a planned televised public appearance on Canada Day (July 1st) at 11:49 EST.

CSA ANNOUNCES NEW SHUTTLE FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES

The Canadian Space Agency, yesterday, announced new Shuttle flight opportunities for three of its astronauts. Julie Payette and Steve MacLean have been selected for Mission Specialist training to begin in August, and Bjarni Tryggvason will fly on an upcoming mission as Payload Specialist.

CANADIAN STUDENTS HEAD TO ISU

Eight scholarships were awarded this year to Canadian students to participate in the International Space University Summer Session in Vienna, Austria. The 10 week session starts July 1st.

CSA AWARDS $3.8 M to COM DEV

The CSA recently announced the award of a $3.8 Million contract to COM DEV of Cambridge, Ontario for design, development and manufacture of two Fine Error Sensors as Canada's contribution to NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. The launch of FUSE is currently scheduled for October 15, 1998. The Canadian Principal Investigator on the FUSE project is Dr. John Hutchings, of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, BC.

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