Charles “Sam” Gemar, a retired NASA astronaut, visited Heritage Manor in Elm Creek, Manitoba, yesterday to share stories of space and science.
Over coffee and cookies, around 35 residents gathered in the Manor’s sunlit lounge for a slideshow presentation and a meet‑and‑greet. Gemar’s visit, which took place during a family trip to nearby Carman, MB, brought a taste of orbit to this close‑knit community.
Gemar—born August 4, 1955, in Yankton, South Dakota—served as a mission specialist on three Space Shuttle flights, logging over 581 hours in space and completing 385 orbits of Earth.
Selected by NASA in 1985, he went on to support shuttle operations in roles such as CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) before retiring in 1996.
Space stories over coffee
Residents settled into armchairs as Gemar cued up slides of Atlantis, Discovery and Columbia launches, followed by dazzling Earth‑view images.
“Three times I flew: STS‑38, STS‑48 and STS‑62. STS‑38 is on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS‑48 on Discovery, and then finally 14 days on Columbia with STS‑62,” Gemar shares, outlining his missions with crisp clarity.
Gemar’s presentation highlighted footage of shuttle main engine ignition, the rumble of solid rocket boosters, and panoramic shots of the Mississippi Delta and New York skyline.
“I think that, you know, just kind of to experience the launch, the exhilaration of launch is a highlight, and then looking at some of the Earth viewing slides, I think people always enjoy that,” he explains.
From southern icebergs to everyday impact
Among the crowd’s favourites were photos of a colossal iceberg drifting in the Southern Ocean, captured during STS‑48’s atmospheric research mission. Gemar also offered an overview of the 60 experiments aboard STS‑62 - from protein crystal growth to atmospheric ozone monitoring - underscoring the shuttle’s role in advancing Earth‑bound technology.
“But I always point out that everything we do in space has very little to do with space. It has everything to do with creating a better life for us here on Earth,” he adds, reminding listeners of the practical benefits of orbital research.
After the slideshow, Gemar mingled over coffee and snacks with residents of the manor, answering questions about everything from the physics of a spacecraft in a vacuum to why we have yet to create the technology in Star Wars.
By the end of the afternoon, Heritage Manor residents expressed gratitude for an event that turned Elm Creek into a small hub of interstellar wonder, presenting Gemar with a card and a small gift on behalf of the residents.
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