Roberta Bondar is famous for being the first Canadian woman to go into space. However, she is also an expert in many different fields. She was born in Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, on December 4, 1945. She has an older sister Barbara. Her mother is a teacher, and her father is an office manager. Roberta was so fascinated with science that her father built her a laboratory in their basement when she was in grade 7. At that time she had also been interested in space. However she knew that she would have to have many different kinds of skill to be picked for a space mission. So, she began to study and learn many different subjects. When she was in high school, she was always a top student, and also involved in many activities including Girl Guides, the YMCA and many sporting activities. In 1968, she graduated and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology and Agriculture from the University of Guelph. She also received a Master of Science Degree in Experimental Pathology from the University of Western Ontario in 1971, a Doctorate in Neurobiology from the University of Toronto in 1974, and a Doctor of Medicine Degree from McMaster University in 1977. One day, when she was listening to the radio, she heard that Canada was starting a program for astronauts. There were more than 4300 men and women applied, but only 6 were chosen, and Roberta is the only woman. On January 22, 1992, Roberta and six other astronauts were blasted into space. In that day, she
