David Saint-Jacques will be Canada's next astronaut to visit the International Space Station.

The engineer, astrophysicist and medical doctor is scheduled to travel to space aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket for a six-month mission in November 2018.

Minister of Science and Innovation Navdeep Bains made the announcement at a news conference on Monday morning, where he described Saint-Jacques’ credentials as "pretty impressive."

The Quebec City native joined the Canadian astronaut corps in 2009.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from École polytechnique de Montréal and a Ph.D in astrophysics from Cambridge University in the U.K. before earning his M.D. from Université Laval. Prior to joining the Canadian Space Program, the 46-year-old father-of-two worked as a medical doctor.

During the announcement in Ottawa, Saint-Jacques said he "stands on the shoulders of giants" – referring to the astronauts who have preceded him and who served as "childhood inspiration," as well as colleagues and mentors.

"The doctor in me is eager to conduct experiments and experience first-hand the effects of microgravity on my body. The engineer in me is eager to operate Canadarm 2," he said. "The astrophysicist in me is eager to look at the stars while floating in space in my space suit. And, of course, the adventurer in me is, well he's just eager."

Saint-Jacques and 39-year-old Jeremy Hansen are the only two active members of the Canadian astronaut corps.

Last year, former industry minister James Moore announced that both Hansen and Saint-Jacques will fly in space by 2024 - one by 2019 and one by 2024 - but he didn't say who would be first.

Space travel makes Canada 'part of something much bigger'

Saint-Jacques thanked Hansen, a former CF-18 fighter pilot, during the morning announcement.

"We've been living, working, training together for seven years. Helping each other every step along the way," he said.

Saint-Jacques said he was "the lucky one” to be picked for the next mission.

"But I know very well it could have been him, and I can't wait for him to get his mission next," Saint-Jacques said.

He said space exploration is "by nature international" and his mission makes Canada "part of something much bigger."

The announcement, which was streamed live on Facebook, saw Saint-Jacques take questions from children in the audience, including whether any animals have been in space and how astronauts bathe.

Saint-Jacques said his interest in space started as a child, when he saw a photo of the Earth that was taken from the moon.

"I realized that science could jump out of the pages of textbooks," he said.

He added that he's looking forward to living and working on the space station, "and seeing the world floating in space just like in that photo I saw when I was a child."



Chris Hadfield, who was commander of the ISS in 2013, is the most recent Canadian in space.

With files from The Canadian Press