ST-HUBERT Canada will join the U.S.-led Lunar Gateway project, an international program that will put humans back on the moon and create an orbiting docking station for spacecraft and research laboratories, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday at the Canadian Space Agency.
“The Lunar Gateway will be one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by human beings,” Trudeau said to an audience of space agency employees. “Not only will this lunar outpost allow for a long-term lunar presence, it will also serve as a launch pad for Mars and beyond.
“Our allies have asked us to join them in reaching the new frontier. … Canada is going to the moon.”
Quebec astronaut David Saint-Jacques sent his support from outer space via a live feed from the International Space Station, where Saint-Jacques currently resides.
“Today ’s announcement is a clear message to the next generation of Canadian explorers — future geologists, engineers, astronauts. Canada is inviting you to dream big.”
Canada will develop a robotic system dubbed Canadarm 3 that will repair and help to maintain the Gateway space station that will orbit the moon. It is supposed to move equipment, support spacewalks and handle samples collected on the moon. Under the program, NASA expects to send astronauts on regular missions to the moon from the Gateway spaceship “to uncover new scientific discoveries and lay the foundation for private companies to build a lunar economy.”
The government said Canada will invest $2.05 billion over the next 24 years for Canada’s space program. It is the first update to its space strategy in nearly 25 years.
The Gateway program is also intended to create an outpost for future missions to Mars. NASA is planning for the Gateway spaceship to be in orbit by 2022.
Canada’s investment includes $150 million over five years for a new Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program, to help small and medium-sized businesses develop technologies to be used in lunar orbit and on the moon’s surface in fields like artificial intelligence, robotics and health.
As well, the federal government is starting a junior astronaut recruitment initiative beginning in the fall to inspire young Canadians to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with some participants training with astronauts at the Canadian Space Agency.
Canada’s space sector employs 10,000 workers and generated $2.3 billion for the Canadian economy in 2017, the federal government reported.