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Marc Garneau, Roberta Bondar, Julie Payette, Robert Thirsk, Chris Hadfield, and more recently, Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque de Soleil, all have one thing in common: they're some of the very few Canadians who have been in space.

The launch of a spaceship is terribly exciting. That's why thousands of people come to watch. They laugh, cheer, and applaud as the rocket rises. They see the smoke, steam, and white-hot fire as millions of litres of fuel burn in seconds. They feel the chest-thumping impact of the sound. Then they stare upward for a long time until they can no longer see even a tiny speck in the distant sky. By that time, the craft is in space. Canada's astronauts come from across the nation: from farms, cities, and little towns.

They went to large schools and to small ones. Maple Leaf in Space showcases these amazing Canadians who have ventured off our planet and delivers some of the thrill of what that's like.

John Melady is a veteran writer on Canadian history and space exploration. His many books include Pearson's Prize, Canadians in Space, Korea, and Heartbreak and Heroism. He lives in Egmondville, Ontario.