The Artemis 2 crew, which traveled the farthest distance in human history last month, says the flight showed Canada “has a lot to offer” toward future lunar exploration.
The crew met for the first time with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Wednesday morning in his office, followed by a public discussion about their mission to the far side of the moon and its impact on the future of space exploration at the National Arts Center in Ottawa.
“This is as far as anyone has gone in space, but it was a risk for a reason and a risk of creating greater opportunities,” Carney said in public statements before his private meeting with the crew. “We will have a chance to talk about that.”
Reed Wiseman, Artemis 2 mission commander, said during the discussion that it was “very important” for the crew to visit Canada.
“Canada has a lot to offer as we strive to achieve a sustainable presence on the moon. This came to mind when I was listening to Jeremy (Hansen) and the Prime Minister speak. You (Canadians) are doing exactly what we need to do on the moon,” he said.
“You’re technology-heavy, you’re people-heavy, you’re culture-heavy. You have these areas of your nation that need service to keep people alive. You need to get food (…) clothing, shelter up there (to the moon).”
“All the things you do here and the way you all care about each other and care about us is exactly what we need as we begin a sustainable presence on the moon.”
Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist and the only Canadian aboard the Artemis II mission, also spoke about what that experience was like.
“I didn’t think much about how to take Canada into space,” he said. “But Canada has gone into space a lot, and I rode on your shoulders.”
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“We talk a lot now in the news about Canada and the United States, but we know in general that the intentions are good,” he said.
“This love and this interdependence is real. That’s what we have on this crew. We’re just showing it for you.”
Canada has begun building sovereign space capabilities
Transport Minister Stephen MacKinnon announced the Canadian Space Launch Act on April 21, saying Canada needs to be able to conduct its own space launches without relying on the United States for its lunar capabilities.
The announcement came 11 days after the Artemis II crew landed in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of San Diego, aboard the Integrity capsule.
The goal of the law is to “authorize, regulate and supervise domestic space launches and reentries” in the future, MacKinnon said.
“This law will provide sovereign Canadian space launch capabilities,” he said, also noting that Canada could “create a commercial space industry here in Canada” that could be worth $40 billion.
“We are unleashing our full and sovereign potential.”
Canada is the only G7 country that does not have its own space launch capabilities, which MacKinnon said has left the country “dependent on foreign countries, most often the United States, to put Canadian satellites into orbit.”
MacKinnon also said the Artemis 2 mission “sparked renewed hope and wonder for millions of Canadians.”
“It reminded us all to look up, imagine what is possible and think about the future we can shape together,” he said. “Canada is ready to continue its legacy as a pioneering nation in spaceflight.”
The Artemis 3 mission is scheduled to take place next year, before the Artemis 4 mission in 2028, which will return astronauts to the surface of the moon.
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