Chris Gainor is a historian and writer specializing in the history of technology. He is the author of two recently published books, To A Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers, and Who Killed the Avro Arrow? He also wrote Canada in Space: The People & Stories Behind Canada's Role in the Exploration of Space, and Arrows to the Moon, which tells the story of the Canadian and British engineers from Avro Canada who made a major contribution to putting U.S. astronauts on the Moon. His writings have also been published in Spaceflight, Quest, and in various online publications and Canadian newspapers.
He holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree. Chris is currently a graduate student in history at the University of Alberta and has worked as a history instructor at the University of Victoria. His other historical interests include the United States, the Soviet Union, and Western Canada.
Chris is International Space Programs Editor for Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, and he is a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society.
During his years as a journalist, Chris wrote extensively on health care and public affairs, and he won a National Newspaper Award for his work. Chris has also worked in public relations in government and in the non-profit sector. He carries on his academic, writing and communications work in Victoria, B.C.
Chris Gainor's commentary on space exploration and related developments:
Blocked sale exposes the neglect of Canada's space program The Space Review, June 2, 2008
Crash of Canada's Space Biz The Tyee, January 28, 2008
Canada's space program in crisis The Space Review, January 28, 2008
Apollo's scientific bounty gives good reasons to go back to the Moon The Space Review, January 23, 2006
Bush's Space Policy Defers Mars Decision January 2004
History Still Haunts the Space Shuttle October 2003
Canada's Space Story on its Stamps October 2003, updated
A Visit to Baikonur August 1992, updated
Books
To A Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers. University of Nebraska Press, 2008, as part of the Outward Odyssey series.
Who Killed the Avro Arrow? Edmonton: Folklore Publishing, 2007.
Canada In Space: The People & Stories Behind Canada's Role in the Exploration of Space. Edmonton: Folklore Publishing, 2006.
Arrows to the Moon: Avro's Engineers and the Space Race. Burlington, Ont.: Apogee Books, 2001.
Contributor to the Encyclopedia of British Columbia. Madeira Park, B.C.: Harbour Publishing Ltd., 2000.
"Free Trade and Medicare," in Jim Sinclair, ed. Crossing the Line: Canada and Free Trade With Mexico. Vancouver: New Star Books, 1992, 100-115.
Journalism
"Churchill's Turn in Canadian Politics," Finest Hour, no. 137 (Winter 2007-8), 44-5.
"Kaleidoscope views of a complex man" (Review of Churchill: The Unexpected Hero by Paul Addison). Victoria Times-Colonist. May 8, 2005. D9.
"Voyager 1's Amazing Trip to Saturn and Titan," Spaceflight, August 2004, vol. 46, no. 8, 324-326.
"Columbia dominoes could topple Canada's space program," The Globe and Mail, February 3, 2003, A15.
"Britain's role in the Apollo lunar landing," Spaceflight, May 2002, vol. 44, no. 5, 213-214.
"Owen Maynard: Canadian engineer helped put a man on the moon," The Globe and Mail, July 21, 2000, R6.
"My Visit to Baikonur," Spaceflight, February 1993, vol. 35, no. 2, 38-39.
"Spaceport Kazakhstan," The Globe and Mail, September 5, 1992, D5.
"Beyond Saturn: Voyager's Astonishing Discoveries," The Vancouver Sun, November 22, 1980, A14.
"Superpowers build arsenals for space war," The Vancouver Sun, October 15, 1980, B1.
Journals
"Canada's Space Program 1958 - 1989: A Program Without an Agency," Acta Astronautica, vol. 60 (2007), no. 2, 132-139.
"Taking the First Step: Science on Apollo 11," Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, vol. 13, no. 1, 2006, 13-20.
"Apollo and the Origin of the Moon," Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, vol. 12, no. 4, 2005, 19-25.
"Alberta's Resources Negotiations and Banff and Jasper National Parks," Past Imperfect, 2005, vol. 11, 1-18.
"The Chapman Report and the Development of Canada's Space Program," Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 4, 2003, 3-19.
"Owen E. Maynard: Lunar Module Pioneer from Canada," Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, vol. 9, no. 3, 2002, 22-29.
"James A. Chamberlin: A Forgotten Leader of the U.S. Space Program," Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, vol. 8, no. 4, 2001, 12-20.
"Before the Fire: NASA's Plans for Apollo," Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly, vol. 6, no. 2, Summer 1998, 32-35.
Check out Chris Gainor's Canadian Spaceflight History website.
Web and book sources on Canadian spaceflight history. Read about Canada's contribution to the Apollo program or on the Avro Arrow. Information on Canadian space stamps.
E-mail Chris Gainor or get more information on Chris' books To A Distant Day: The Rocket Pioneers, Arrows to the Moon, Canada in Space and Who Killed the Avro Arrow?