Saint-Hubert, Quebec, May 1, 2001 – After a 12 day mission to the
International Space Station, Endeavour landed today at Edwards Air Force
Base in California at 12:11 p.m. with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Astronaut
Chris Hadfield aboard.

“Canada welcomes home a real-life hero,” said the Honourable Brian Tobin,
Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the CSA. “The spacewalk by
Chris Hadfield and the installation of Canadarm2 are a source of pride and
an inspiration for all Canadians. This mission has been an absolute triumph,
demonstrating Canada’s expertise in the design and application of innovative
robotics systems.”

The mission culminated on Saturday when, for the first time ever, two
generations of Canadian robotic arms worked together to transfer a packing
crate (the space pallet in which Canadarm2 was delivered). “We are very
proud of all we have achieved. Canadarm2 has been performing perfectly from
the first moment it was installed by Chris,” said CSA President Mac Evans.
“This mission reaffirms Canada’s reputation as a leader in robotics
technology.”

During this mission marked by firsts, Hadfield became the first Canadian to
perform a spacewalk as he twice stepped out into the vacuum of space.
Endeavour’s flight also included the most complex and intricate robotics
work ever conducted in space. The astronauts learned to operate the new
Canadarm2 at the Canadian Space Agency’s world-renowned training simulators
in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. Hadfield, who helped the Station crew give the arm
its first command, said Canadarm2 “flies beautifully, very precisely and
very much like the simulator, which is comforting.”

Canadarm2’s ability to flip end-over-end to reach different anchor points on
the Station and its increased flexibility will allow the new arm to perform
complex robotic manoeuvres beyond the reach of the original arm. Canadarm2
is critical to the assembly of the Station – it will act as a “construction
crane” to build the Station in space and will be used on virtually every
mission.

Canadarm2 will play a critical role this June, when it installs the Airlock
to be flown to the Station as part of Mission STS-104. The Airlock will be
positioned on a location that the original Canadarm could not reach.

Canadian companies from all regions of the nation participated in building
Canadarm2, with MD Robotics of Brampton, Ontario as its prime contractor.

About the CSA

Established in 1989 with its headquarters situated in Saint-Hubert, Quebec,
the Canadian Space Agency coordinates all aspects of the Canadian Space
Program. Through its Space Knowledge, Applications and Industry Development
business line, the CSA delivers services involving: Earth and the
Environment; Space Science; Human Presence in Space; Satellite
Communications; Generic Space Technologies; Space Qualification Services and
Awareness. The Canadian Space Agency is at the forefront of the development
and application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and
humanity.

For more information, contact:

Media Relations Office

Canadian Space Agency

Tel.: (450) 926-4345 or 4370

Fax: (450) 926-4352

Mission STS-100 Website: www.space.gc.ca/sts100-mission