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1 7 | Friday, D ecem ber 9, 2 0 1 6 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Man misses chance to be Canada's next astronaut by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville' s Damian Rogers came within a hair of becoming Canada^ next astronaut. He was among the close to 4,000 people who applied for two coveted astronaut positions that were posted by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in July -- making the top fOO before finding out Friday (Dec. 2) he had been disqualified. Rogers, who has lived between two homes, in Oakville and Hamilton, over the last year, said he' s heartbroken by the news. People dream of becoming a professional and famous athlete he told the Oakville Beaver Friday and he too, wanted to do something "extraordinary that even fewer people do." "I' ve always had a huge passion for space exploration ever since I was a small child," he said. "My mom said shoot for the stars and I was like, OK, sounds like a great plan. How do I get there -- an astronaut was the only way to go. " The 35-year-old, who graduated from M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington, spent years padding out his resume and job experience for the day when the CSA opened positions, which hasn' t happened in about eight years. He has a B.Eng in aerospace engineering from Ryerson University in Toronto, an M.A. Science in space science from International Space University, a PhD in mechanical engineering from Ryerson University and was chosen as one of a select few students to receive a CSA grant to m Oakville's Damian Rogers came within a hair of becoming Canada's next astronaut. He vows he'll try again. | submitted photo attend the International Astronautical Congress On Friday, however, he found out he won' t in 2005, 2006 and 2008. be space exploring for the CSA anytime soon Over the past few months he' s gone through because he gets the occasional headache. tough exams and aptitude tests, passing each with flying colours. Rogers, who is first-aid certified, has a private pilot' s licence and also a scuba diving certificate, has also been taking contract positions so as not to tie himself to a job, just in case he got the call. sea&g "The doctor went over my medical questionnaire and medical evaluation," said Rogers. "It' s completely subjective right, but he thinks that because I have headaches it might at some point interfere with a mission or something and so he disqualified me based on that alone." Rogers is disappointed to say the least. "It' s heartbreaking news," he continued. Despite the setback, he said he' ll apply again to be an astronaut when the chance comes around again. "It' s really been a life-long goal," he said. In the meantime, he will continue to add more experience to his portfolio and find jobs that will keep him "in and close to space as much as possible." Rogers noted there are a number of private companies that are starting to emerge in the commercial space sector. "Some of those have potential launches coming up, at least in the next decade or so," he said. If they' re looking for an astronaut for hire, he said he'd be up for the role. For more on the CSA' s recruitment campaign, visit www.asc-csa.gc.ca. Find us on since | icraftg | 19 9 1 U n ite d W a y O a k v ille N o tic e o f 2 0 1 6 S p e c ia l M e m b e r s h ip M e e t in g Q u a lity P icture F ra m in g a t a R e a s o n a b le P r ic e F ra m ing · A r t G a lle ry · A n t i q u e s (· Corning Soon) M onday, D ecem ber 19, 2016 6 :0 0 P M R e c e p tio n | 6 :3 0 P M M e e tin g 3 IO K e r r S t. 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