A Canadian is going to the moon to help the U.S. build a space station

A Canadian astronaut will be on board the Artemis II spacecraft as part of an American contingent travelling to the moon in 2023. The trip is part of a U.S. plan to establish the Lunar Gateway space station above the lunar surface, to facilitate lunar exploration and future voyages to Mars.

The Gateway Treaty, signed by the federal government (for an unknown cost), also ensures a second flight for a Canadian astronaut to the forthcoming international space station.

Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains made the announcement today alongside Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell and Canadian astronauts David Saint-Jacques, Jeremy Hansen, Jenni Sidey-Gibbons and Josh Kutryk, one of whom will be chosen to be part of NASA’s first crewed mission to the moon since 1972 — making them the first Canadian to orbit the moon. As Bains pointed out on Twitter, “this will make Canada the second — ever — country to send an astronaut to deep space.”

For the full announcement, please visit the Canadian Space Agency website.

For the full announcement: https://t.co/WT73AAK7vo pic.twitter.com/anP3VD39LM

— Navdeep Bains (@NavdeepSBains) December 16, 2020

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