If all goes according to plan, NASA's most powerful rocket to date will come to life on the morning of August 29 as part of the Artemis I mission to the Moon.
Mission takes place unmanned, while the towering 32-story Space Launch System (SLS) and passengers in the attached Orion Capsule are equipped withthree mannequins only. } — The first moonshot of a manned spacecraft since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The goal of the Artemis program is to send humanity back to the moon — and eventually Mars.
But unlike the Apollo program of the 1960s, Artemis is an international effort. And Canada is playing a small role in bringing humanity back to deep space. New Canadarm, building lunar rover and sending astronauts.
Our role is bigger and better than ever in the quiet but historic past of space exploration.
Canada is her third country to launch a satellite into space. We sent astronauts to live and work in space. We provided critical instruments to Mars rovers and tools to spacecraft that charted distant asteroids. We are partners in the newly launched James Webb Space Telescope, providing instruments to keep it guided
and, of course, Built the iconic robotic arms — Canadarm and Canadarm 2 — used on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station, and are featured on the five-dollar bill.
And we will go to the moon too.
What's next?
Artemis I's mission is to test the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule. But then comes Artemis II, scheduled for 2024 or 2025, with four astronauts traveling Orion and orbiting the Moon.
The capsule contained an as-yet-unknown Canadian astronaut, the first to go into deep space.
NASA also has plans to build the Lunar Gateway, a small space station that orbits the Moon. Canada has contributed Canadaarm3, built by MDA, to that project. The new arm is much more sophisticated than the original arm.
"Canadaarm2 is on the International Space Station today. It's about 400 kilometers from Earth, so if you're going straight up, it's a few hours' drive. "said. Holly Johnson, MDA's Vice President of Space and Robot Operations. "Canadarm3 will orbit the Moon at Luna Gateway, 400,000 kilometers from Earth."
On its extended trip, CSA will Canadaarm's intelligence and artificial intelligence The focus is on "evolution," she said.
Just as the first two Canadarms helped build and maintain the International Space Station, Canadarm 3 will be integral to the construction of the new Lunar Gateway.
MDA is also partnering with Lockheed Martin and General Motors to provide robotic arms for future lunar rovers.
And as for the lunar rover, the Canadian firm can spend her two weeks in frigid temperatures on moon nights. I am also working on
``Kick ass''
``Canada's role in the universe — i We've been players from the beginning," said Ken Podwalski, Executive Director of Space Exploration and Lunar Gateway Program Manager at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
"I think Canadians...don't understand how great we are. They don't understand what we've done with the shuttle program, the astronauts, the science, the satellite program. I think, our Earth observation, the International Space Station," he said.
"We have been working on that plan for 25 years . We have never failed. We have never failed. We are the go-to players in space exploration." And Canadians need to know that."
Canada may not be as big or populous as the United States, Europe, or China — Some of the major players in the space — But we are definitely strong, said Chris Gaynor. Amateur astronomer and space historian.
"We don't spend as much per capita as Americans do," he said. "But when we've been involved with space, we've always been at the forefront. We've been able to succeed when we put our hearts into it and put some resources into it.
``I think this is an important message.
Growing $470 billion industry
Canada's efforts are not limited to going into space, say industry insiders. says. It's also about investing in the future and hiring here.
``The global space sector was $470 billion in 2021 — and it is growing. of jobs," said Lisa Campbell. , Director of the Canadian Space Agency.
"It's growing too," she said. “More and more young people are drawn to the space field because it is exciting and interesting: science, technology, mathematics, law, project management, finance — etc. And the demand for people working in the space sector will be enormous in the future.”
Whether or not investments in space are helping us here will be soon. You may not realize it, but over the past 65 years, the planet has benefited. Cordless vacuum cleaners Memory foamImproving eye surgery
Canada's contribution also had ripple effects. CanadaArm's technology has been improved and used to support medical robotics, performing thousands of procedures in hospitals around the globe, Johnson said.
CSA is also home to the Advisory Board on Deep Space Medicine. This advisory board aims to learn more about human health in space with eyes. To innovate at home. It also launched the Deep Space Healthcare Challengeto create new diagnostic technologies that will benefit both deep space missions and people living in remote communities.
"As we understand how to sustain human health and feed more people in space, we will see greater impact on remote communities, food security, disease detection and prevention and treatment." And so on, it helps with the challenges we have on Earth,” Campbell said. "Many of the technologies we develop in space are useful here on Earth ."
A new race to the Moon is now underway. 160} said Podwalski, and Canada is the majority of which — and should leave known.
"As Canadians," he said, "We are not boasting enough."