Pilot raised in Sask. makes shortlist of potential astronauts

A Royal Canadian Air Force pilot with Saskatchewan roots could be headed to the stars.

Jason Leuschen was born in B.C., but his family moved to a farm near Bruno, east of Saskatoon, when he was three years old.

He eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan before joining the RCAF to train as a helicopter pilot.

Now, Leuschen is one of 72 candidates remaining in the Canadian Space Agency’s search to fill two positions for astronauts. The competition began with 3,700 applicants.

Leuschen’s father David said Bruno is already buzzing at the prospect of being home to an astronaut.

“One of his classmates already sent me a thing saying: ‘I’m proud enough to say that I went to school with him, and I’m telling everybody that,'” he said.

David added he’s not surprised to see his son chasing a dream to go to space.

“He was always into science fairs, building robots and laser beams and so on,” he said.

The CSA will announce its final selections this summer.

 – With files from 650 CKOM’s Brent Bosker.