On the ground, “Canadian-American relations are at their lowest since the War of 1812,” a year during which Canada was invaded by Americans several times, notes the Christian Science Monitor.
But, “there is a small place where Canada and the United States can still be the best of friends,” the New York Times points out. This place, the newspaper specifies, is a space capsule the size of a small camper van.
On board, three Americans: mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch. And, “the first Canadian in history to travel to the Moon,” mission specialist Jeremy Hansen proudly writes the CBC. Together, they will be the first humans to fly over our satellite since 1972, as part of the Artemis 2 mission.
In an interview filmed from space, the four astronauts show their joy in experiencing this historic moment. Victor Glover declares, “One of the most extraordinary aspects of being an astronaut is having the opportunity to participate in a mission that we will cherish the memory of for the rest of our lives.”
Leadership in robotics and space diplomacy
Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is pleased that “among all the partners of NASA around the world, the only country invited to participate in this mission is Canada,” CTV News reports. And “this is not a coincidence,” he emphasizes. Canadian officials began negotiations on the country’s participation in the Artemis program between 2018 and 2020, recalls the Globe and Mail. “At that time, it was understood that the agreement could include lunar flights for Canadians.” In return, Ottawa would invest over $2 billion in a lunar program, including a new version of its space arm used on the American shuttle and the International Space Station.
Furthermore, CTV News adds that Ottawa announced this year an investment of $200 million Canadian dollars to develop a rocket and satellite launch site in Nova Scotia. The Canadian Space Agency states that the country plays a role in space diplomacy by focusing on international collaboration.
Planetary mission
Celebrating the fact that the first woman and the first person of color to travel to the Moon are part of the crew, former Canadian astronaut Julie Payette, interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor, highlights the progressive nature of the mission:
“This pushes the boundaries, and that’s what we do in exploration, discovery, science, and research in general […] The entire Artemis crew is coming together for all the inhabitants of Earth.”
“We are seeing an increase in protectionism and growing concerns about sovereignty and geopolitical stability,” Lisa Campbell, head of the Canadian Space Agency, tells the New York Times. “But in reality,” she adds, “we all share the same fragile planet and we must take care of it. We must help each other.”
The four astronauts will loop around the Moon on Monday, Space.com reports. After that, their capsule will return to Earth, splashing down off the coast of San Diego a few days later.
