Nice photo and update today from ESA’s Lionel Ferra, helping the ESA team at EAC train Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield on ATV-4 docking in the mock-up/simulator located at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.

Chris launches to the ISS on 19 December, and will serve as a Station flight engineer until the first crew departs in March 2013, when he will take over as commander (the first Canadian station commander).

By the way: the list of ‘Canadian foods that will fly in space‘ – as suggested in a nation-wide contest (names of Canadian proposers included below) – include:

  • Sean, from Egmon in British Columbia, proposed the SeaChange Seafoods tdb. Candied Wild Smoked Salmon;
  • Erin, from Oyama in British Columbia, proposed the SeaChange Savouries Smoked Salmon Pate;
  • Jeff, from Edmonton in Alberta, proposed the Trails End Cranberry Craze Buffalo Stix;
  • Riley, from Abbotsford in British Columbia, proposed the Hapi Foods Groups inc. cereals;
  • Louise, from Saint-Bruno in Quebec, proposed the Profitapom dried apple chunks;
  • Dan, from Surrey in British Columbia, proposed Sun Rype Products Ltd. fruit bars;
  • Lauren, from Montreal in Quebec, proposed the Biscuit Leclerc orange zest with green tea cookies;
  • Karen, from Toronto in Ontario, proposed the L.B. Maple Treat Inc. maple syrup cookies;
  • Mireille, from Whistler in British Columbia proposed the Whistler Chocolate;
  • Michael, from Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island, proposed the Island Abbey Foods Ltd. honey drops;
  • Barry, from Regina in Saskatchewan, proposed chocolate bar; and,
  • Emiee, from Kitchener in Ontario, proposed maple syrup.