Steve MacLean, 53, is the second Canadian to have ever walked in space, and is taking over the agency to replace acting president Guy Bujold, CTV News reported.

Industry Minister Jim Prentice said in a news release MacLean is "a modern hero and is very highly respected among academic, industrial and international partners."

MacLean was one of the first six Canadian astronauts selected in 1983, and went on to serve on the shuttles Columbia in 1992 and Atlantis in 2006, when he conducted a six-hour space walk. He also was the first Canadian to operate the robotic Canadarm2, the report said.

The federal CSA is involved in astronaut recruitment, earth observation, space science and exploration, satellite communications, and space awareness and learning.