The latest addition to the Okanagan Science Centre is out of this world – literally.

And it was done with the help of Canada's favourite astronaut.

Joanne Sale, with the OSC, said she mentioned to a friend of her how wonderful it would be to have something like a space suit.

Her friend was also a former board member who is on a first-names basis with Chris Hadfield, one of the most popular astronauts in generations.

Sale said her friend asked Hadfield about the possibility of getting a suit, and two weeks later it was sitting on Sale's desk.

“He went to bat right away,” said Sale of the astronaut who many credit with making space cool again.

“This is an actual SOKOL spacesuit. It is a Russian-made suit. It has been to space a number of times.”
The suit is on a long-term loan to the OSC and will be on display for at least five years.

The Polson Park centre also has its permanent space exhibit upstairs.

Learn more.