International Space Camp Team Canada Biographies

Name: Devon Couch 

ISC Team Canada Position: Pilot

Education: Grade 10 at Geraldton Composite High School

Hometown: Geraldton ON Canada

Favourite Astronaut: Marc Garneau  

Favourite Space Quote: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." 

                                                                                                      -- Neil Armstrong 

ISC Team Canada Pilot Devon Couch (left)
with Mission Specialist Ben Mannisto (right)

I think I shared an interest of space with every other kid I knew. Ever since I was a young age, being an astronaut was a dream far beyond reach. In Grade 9, while completing a unit on astronomy unit in science class, my interest in the ever-expanding universe deepened. I became incredibly interested in how things work in space. When I learned about the opportunity to represent my community and my country at International Space Camp, I didn't really think it would happen. I didn't think I would get the chance to do some of the amazing things that I had dreamed of as a child. This experience will not only be extraordinary to take part in but also to bring back new information and new ways of looking at the universe.  I am grateful for this opportunity to pursue my passion for space and to bring this experience back to my community.  

Name: Ben Mannisto

ISC Team Canada Position: Mission Specialist

Education: Grade 10 Academic at Geraldton Composite High School

Hometown: Longlac ON Canada

Favourite Astronaut: Chris Hadfield

Favourite Space Quote: “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” – Arthur C. Clarke

Two separate experiences came together to convince me to pursue the dream of representing my community and my country as part of International Space Camp Team Canada: one was reading Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth; the other was an astronomy unit in Grade 9 science. Both of these ignited a burning interest in space, the universe and everything in it. When Benjamin Jewiss presented the chance of International Space Camp to em and three of my peers and described the opportunity of to go to Huntsville Alabama for a week of what is essentially astronaut training, I applied immediately. After a strenuous interview process, I am proud to say that I made the cut.  Not only will Space Camp be an incredible amount of fun, but the engineering challenges will help me in my endeavors of becoming a mechanical engineer in the future. I am looking forward to the opportunity to bring back everything I learn through this experience to my community through public presentations to youth groups and civic organizations.