Q-and-A Astronaut Edition with Dr. Robert Thirsk

Editor's note: This article was originally published in UCalgary AlumniNews.

It’s not every day you get the chance to sit down with a world-renowned thinker, let alone one of the mere 642 people (or 0.000008% of humanity) who’ve actually lived in space. So, we were thrilled to channel our inner Sean Evans and interview astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk, UCalgary’s 13th chancellor, for a rapid-fire, interstellar Q-and-A. 

Do you have a favourite space-themed movie?  

Apollo 13.  

You've had freeze-dried meals in orbit. I'm curious. What's one earth dish that you would sneak aboard, even if it broke a protocol?  

Prime rib, asparagus and a baked potato.  

When you're on a plane, are you a window seat or an aisle person?  

Absolutely window.  

What advice would you have for students who are just starting out in this really complex world?  

Your educational experience in university needs to be more than just what is offered in the classroom and laboratory. There are so many other leadership opportunities around the campus [such as] student government, co-op programs, interdisciplinary projects. Regard those opportunities as a means to hone not only your technical skills, but the essential non-technical skills or the personality traits, as well.

Are you more of a morning person or a night owl?  

Night owl. 

Is humanity getting smarter, kinder or just louder?  

Louder.  

Star Wars or Star Trek? 

I'm a fan of both. I saw the first Star Wars movie when it came out in 1977. I went to a midnight showing, 'cause that was the only time I could get in to see the movie — it was so popular. And I was blown away by the story. But, if you twist my arm, I'm probably more of a Star Trek fan, and that is because of the principles of exploration and the model of governance that Star Trek embodied. The crew makeup of the Enterprise exemplified diversity and inclusiveness. And consider the two lead characters: Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. You couldn't find two personalities that were more diametrical opposites than Kirk and Spock, and yet they were the closest of friends. They were bonded by a shared vision about the exploration of the galaxy. My hopes for the exploration of deep space in the 21st century were well portrayed by the Star Trek ethos.

Would you go to Mars if you knew it was a one-way trip?  

No.  

Is there something material you can't live without?  

First cup of coffee in the morning [holds up a hockey-themed coffee mug]. 

If you could go back to space with any historical figure, who would it be?  

Leonardo da Vinci. 

What three traits are the most important for any university graduate?  

Self-care and self-management skills, a vision of the future, and the ability to execute.  

If NASA gave you one last mission and just a playlist, where are you going and what's the first song?  

Round trip to Mars and Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones.  

What's one thing that never gets old, no matter how many times you experience it?  

The backcountry of Banff and Yoho national parks.  

What's a book everyone should read at least once in a lifetime?  

Seize the Fire: Heroism, Duty and Nelson’s Battle of Trafalgar, which is an hour-by-hour account of the Battle of Trafalgar, and indirectly it shows off the leadership skills of Horatio Nelson. There are a lot of good lessons there. You know, a lot of our explorers from past centuries, including Indigenous peoples, David Thompson and Sir Alexander Mackenzie — were phenomenal people. If the space program had existed 200 years ago, early explorers like Horatio Nelson, James Cook, and others would have been fantastic astronauts. They had the right stuff.

Was there ever a class that you struggled with?  

Yes, my first year of medical school; (memorizing and) learning human anatomy; that was very difficult.  

What’s more essential in a crisis, a cool head or a good sense of humour? 

Cool head.  

If aliens landed and asked to meet just one person to represent humanity, who would you send?  

My fellow Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau. Marc recently passed away, but he exemplified the best of humanity. 

You’ve trained underwater and you've lived in orbit. What does Robert Thirsk's ideal vacation look like?  

You remember how they describe the Seinfeld TV show as a show about nothing? Well, an ideal vacation for me is a vacation about nothing. A vacation when I get up in the morning, sit in a lounge chair, read a book, soak in a hot tub and otherwise do nothing. That'd be pretty good.

When you think about everything that you've accomplished and all that's gone into your career, how does it feel knowing that it all started here at the University of Calgary?  

I've had a chance to travel to many places in Canada as well as internationally. I’ve discovered that Calgary is unique in the world. Our city is unique for its pioneering spirit and settler experience. In other words, if someone in Calgary has a novel idea, a new initiative that would add value to society — it's easy to find like-minded people who will rally around that idea and help push it forward. The volunteers who contributed their time and energy to make the 1988 Winter Olympics a success are an example of this spirit.

Many may think that this kind of spirit exists everywhere. It doesn't. But it does exist in Calgary and at the University of Calgary. And for this reason, I always find my time in the city and on campus to be productive, uplifting and heartwarming.

As the first-ever Arch Award recipient, Robert Thirsk continues to embody the spirit of UCalgary alumni: bold, curious, and deeply connected to the community that helped shape him. It’s clear that, no matter how far he’s travelled, the University of Calgary is never far from his heart.