Canada seeks astronaut recruits OTTAWA (CP)-- The Canadian Space Agency is looking for a new squad of space cadets. A national campaign to recruit between four and six new astronauts begins Saturday (Jan 18) when advertisements are to appear in newspapers across the country. After a dry spell of eight years when no Canadian astronaut has flown, agency head Larkin Kerwin says more astronauts are now needed. The new astronauts will likely serve aboard the international Space Station Freedom, which is to be assembled in space starting in 1995. Canada has also been invited to send two astronauts to Houston to train as mission specialists starting this July. In all, Kerwin said that as many as 10 Canadians may be launched into space over the next decade. Candidates must be Canadian citizens with at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, biological science, medicine or mathematics. A candidate must also have a minimum three years of related professional experience, or an advanced degree. When Canada recruited its original six astronauts in 1983, there were 4,300 applicants. The space agency is expecting thousands more to apply this time. It hopes to make a decision by May. Marc Garneau became Canada's first astronaut in 1984. Roberta Bondar is expected to become Canada's first woman in space this January (1992).