Jameel Janjua
Jameel Janjua is a Canadian military fighter pilot and astronaut.[1][2] He is a test pilot at Virgin Galactic.
Early life and education
[edit]Janjua was born in Calgary, Alberta. He attended the Royal Military College of Canada, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering and was awarded the Governor General’s Medal as the institution’s graduate. He subsequently received a postgraduate scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and completed a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).[3]
Military career
[edit]Royal Canadian Air Force
[edit]After completing his education, Janjua trained as a fighter pilot in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and Cold Lake, Alberta. He completed the CF-18 Hornet conversion course, earning the Colonel Ned Henderson and Captain Tristan de Konick Memorial Trophies. He was posted to 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron in Bagotville, Quebec, where he flew missions for Operation Noble Eagle, defending North America from strategic and asymmetric threats.[4][5]
Canadian Space Agency Selection Process
[edit]In 2009, Janjua was a finalist in the Canadian Space Agency's astronaut recruitment campaign. He was one of the last four candidates selected from a pool of 5,351 applicants.[6][7]
References
[edit]- ^ published, Elizabeth Howell (2024-07-08). "'This is how we get to Mach 3:' Virgin Galactic's Jameel Janjua on his long journey to space (exclusive)". Space. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Jameel Janjua: The Canadian flying tourists to space". CBC.
- ^ "Jameel Janjua | Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics | University of Waterloo". uwaterloo.ca. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Canadian pilot Janjua joins Virgin Galactic - Wings MagazineWings Magazine". www.wingsmagazine.com. 2020-11-02. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Meet Jameel Janjua: Virgin Galactic test pilot". Skies Mag. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ Shea, Courtney (2024-08-15). "A Canadian in Space". Macleans.ca. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ August 8, Tom Ward; EDT, 2024 2:07 pm. "How an Elite Pilot Got a Second Chance at Space". InsideHook. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
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