Bjarni V. Tryggvason, Icelandic Canadian Astronaut, Dies at 76

Bjarni Valdimar Tryggvason,the first and only Icelandic-born astronaut, died last week at the age of 76, Morgunblaðið reports. He was born in Iceland September 21, 1945, but moved with his parents to Canada at the age of seven and grew up in Vancouver, BC.

Although Bjarni Lived in Canada most of his life, his bond to his Icelandic roots was always strong.

He earned a BASc. degree in engineering physics from the University of British Columbia in 1972 and subsequently completed postgraduate work in engingeering, specializing in applied mathematics and fluid dynamics, at the University of Western Ontario.

In August of 1997, he was part of a Canadian crew of six astronauts on board NASA’s space shuttle Discovery, which circled the Earth 180 times in 12 days. He was the payload specialist on board.

The shuttle traveled so fast around the Earth that it was hard to believe you were actually experiencing this, he stated at a press conference at Bessastaðir, the presidential residence, in the summer of 1998.

When asked at the time by a Morgunblaðið reporter if his journey into space had changed his life in any way, he answered it hadn’t, but that it had shown him what humans were doing to the Earth, thereby referring to the pollution that was clearly noticeable from space.

American Astronaut Leland Melvin, who in 1998 worked with Bjarni in an international group of astronauts called The Penguins, was the first to share the news of Bjarni’s death. He did so on Instagram April 6: “Rest in Peace Penguin classmate. It was an honor to train and work with you Bjarni Tryggvason. Condolences to the family . Much love.”

Subsequently, the Canadian Space Agency posted an article in Bjarni’s memory:

“Tryggvason was an engineer, scientist, educator, test pilot and proud father. He applied the highest standard to everything he did and will be remembered by his CSA colleagues, friends and family for his humour, dedication and originality,” the article reads and then quotes François-Philippe Champagne, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, who states, “Pilot, meteorologist, researcher, professor and astronaut, Bjarni inspired a generation of Canadians to dream big and reach for the stars. I am eternally thankful to have known him.”