Canadian astronaut Julie Payette receives honourary U of M doctorate

Canadian astronaut Julie Payette will receive an honourary doctorate from the University of Manitoba on Thursday. (File image)

Canadian astronaut Julie Payette will being granted an honorary doctor of science degree on Thursday at the University of Manitoba.

Payette was Canada's second woman in space and the first Canadian to visit the International Space Station during her 1999 voyage.

She served as the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency from 2000 to 2007 and went on to become a Quebec envoy to Washington, D.C.

In July, she'll start her new role as chief operating officer of the Montreal Science Centre, a federal museum.