A Newmarket native has moved on to the next round in the search for Canada’s next astronaut.
Francis James Frenzel, a pilot-in-training with the Royal Canadian Air Force, is among the top 32 candidates selected by the Canadian Space Agency. The list was recently whittled down from 72.
Frenzel is currently stationed at CFB Trenton. When he’s not training to become a pilot, he helps coordinate air force flights.
He graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Toronto in aerospace engineering.
“It truly is ‘the final frontier.’ I love this country and take pride in serving the nation; what better way to do so than by inspiring the next generation of dreamers?”
The space agency will announce the final two candidates in August. They will then move to Houston, Texas for training. Officials are hoping to fly to space in 2020.
More than 3,700 people from across the country applied for the chance.
