From space station to Rideau Hall: A timeline of Julie Payette’s eventful life and career

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Julie Payette is an astronaut, pilot, engineer, and one of Canada’s shortest-reigning Governors General, appointed in 2017. She was born in Montreal on Oct. 20, 1963, and has had a distinguished and eventful life and career.

1980

Received a Canadian scholarship to attend the Atlantic College in Wales.

1986

Obtained a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from McGill University and started work as a system engineer with IBM Canada.

1990

Obtained a Master of Applied Science & Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto.

1992

The Canadian Space Agency selected Payette to become an astronaut from 5,330 applicants. In preparation for a space mission assignment, Payette obtained her commercial pilot licence, studied Russian and logged 120 hours as a research operator onboard reduced gravity aircraft.

1996

Obtained her military pilot captaincy for a Snowbird jet at a Canadian Forces Base.