Canada reached a deal with the United States to launch a Canadian astronaut around the moon in 2023, said Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Technology and Business, on Wednesday.
At a video news conference, Bains announced the Gateway Treaty, which formalises Canada’s participation in the U.S.-led effort to construct a new international space station above the surface of the moon to enable exploration and potential missions to Mars.
The Treaty contains an undertaking to get a Canadian on It requires a promise to get a Canadian on board as the United States flies the moon in 2023, as well as a second trip to the future station. It’s not going to have a moon landing.
“Launching 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,” Bains told Ca’s news conference.
Under the treaty, Canada will contribute a new robotic arm to the development of the Lunar Gateway, which will orbit the moon and enable the exploration of the lunar surface and assist potential missions to Mars.
Bains did not specify how much it would cost Canada to take part in the Artemis 2 mission, which would be accompanied by an unmanned lunar flyby set for next year by the United States.
Earlier this month, Canada contributed 22.8 million Canadian dollars to the first phase of the creation of Canadarm 3, a new robotic arm to be used at the Moon Station.
“It’s important to note that we’re a spacefaring nation, and very proud of our space history,” said the Canadian Minister. “And this investment with regards to the Artemis 2 programme, as well as the overall space strategies is well over two billion Canadian dollars over the next 24 years.”
