The federal government has signed an agreement with the United States to send a Canadian astronaut around the moon as part of a broader effort to establish a new space station above the lunar surface.

Industry Minister Navdeep Bains unveiled the new Gateway Treaty on Wednesday, which formalizes CanadaB次元官网网址檚 involvement in the U.S.-led effort to build that new station known as the Lunar Gateway.

The treaty includes a commitment to having a Canadian on board when the U.S. conducts a manned flyby of the moon in 2023, as well as a second yet-to-be-scheduled flight to the future station.

B次元官网网址淐anada will join the U.S. on the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo missions,B次元官网网址� Bains said during a news conference with Canadian Space Agency astronauts Jeremy Hansen, David Saint-Jacques, Joshua Kutryk and Jenni Sidey-Gibbons.

B次元官网网址淟aunching in 2023, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut will be part of Artemis 2, the first mission to carry humans to lunar orbit in over 50 years. This will make Canada only the second country after the U.S. to have an astronaut in deep space.B次元官网网址�

The new treaty also formally confirms that Canada will contribute a new robotic arm to help with construction of the Lunar Gateway, which will orbit the moon and allow for exploration of the lunar surface and assist future missions to Mars.

The government last week committed $22.8 million toward development of the new Canadarm3 by MDA Canada.

The Canadian Space Agency is one of several partners in the U.S.-led endeavour along with the European Space Agency and their Japanese counterpart. Russia has also expressed an interest in joining.

The Lunar Gateway is projected to be about one-sixth the size of the International Space Station in orbit around the Earth, with plans to build it over the next decade.

Bains did not say how much Canada will spend to participate in the Artemis 2 flight, which will come after an unmanned flyby of the moon that the U.S. has scheduled for next year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important to note that weB次元官网网址檙e a spacefaring nation, and very proud of our space history,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd this investment with regards to the Artemis 2 program, as well as the overall space strategies, is well over $2 billion over the next 24 years.B次元官网网址�

Bains later said in an interview with The Canadian Press that the two flights as well as the Canadarm project and other robotics programs on the Lunar Gateway are included in the nearly $2 billion set aside for space.

The minister defended OttawaB次元官网网址檚 planned investment in space, touting the economic and scientific benefits that come from CanadaB次元官网网址檚 involvement in extraterrestrial exploration B次元官网网址� a sentiment echoed by some of the astronauts in attendance.

MDA president Mike Greenley made similar comments in an interview following the announcement as he welcomed the new treaty with the U.S. as a win for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 robotics sector and space industry.

B次元官网网址淎nd then the astronautsB次元官网网址� flights are highly, highly motivational for the rest of the country,B次元官网网址� he added.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been clearly demonstrated that the motivation of youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math and STEM professions has been inspired by astronauts in the space program, is high. And so youB次元官网网址檙e driving the next generation.B次元官网网址�

As for the purpose of the Artemis 2 flyby, Kutryk said it will help test the rockets and other systems needed to start work on the Lunar Gateway.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 worth pointing out here that this will be, I think, the farthest and fastest that any human in the history of our species has ever gone,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd so itB次元官网网址檚 a very big deal to be able to do just that: get a vehicle that far away and then safely recover it back to Earth.B次元官网网址�

They also spoke about the excitement and interest that is generated among young Canadians who may be encouraged to pursue careers in robotics and other areas with potential links to space.

Exactly who will get to fly past the moon has yet to be determined.

B次元官网网址淎t some point, we will assign a crew and thatB次元官网网址檚 when weB次元官网网址檒l find out which Canadian astronaut is going to be selected,B次元官网网址� Hansen said.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the things thatB次元官网网址檚 really important to us as an astronaut corps is the word B次元官网网址榯eam,B次元官网网址� and that we take on these big challenges together B次元官网网址� and it doesnB次元官网网址檛 turn into a competitive process, but turns into a process of us lifting each other up all the way.

One of the main drivers in the U.S. plan to get back to the moon has been Donald Trump. Bains suggested the presidentB次元官网网址檚 imminent departure from the White House next month after losing the November election to Joe Biden does not threaten the program.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l continue to remain engaged with the Americans,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut so far, all signals have been positive and weB次元官网网址檝e heard nothing to the contrary. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a great deal of commitment to this program. And I believe itB次元官网网址檚 bipartisan.B次元官网网址�

While Artemis 2 will not touch down on the moon, the U.S. has plans to land a ship on the lunar surface in 2024.

Bains would not rule out a Canadian being on that trip as well, saying: B次元官网网址淐onversations are ongoing, and I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily close that door yet.B次元官网网址�

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press

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