By Elishya Perera
MONTRÉAL, Québec (CWBN)_The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA have signed the Gateway Treaty, to send a Canadian astronaut around the moon in 2023, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Navdeep Bains, announced yesterday (Dec 16).
The Agreement confirms Canada’s participation in Artemis II mission, the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972.
“This is a significant moment in Canada’s space history. The Canada–U.S. Gateway Treaty takes Canada to the Moon for the first time. Our country will collaborate with the most advanced space organizations in the world on cutting-edge science and technology for the benefit of humankind,” Bains said.
Under the Treaty, Canada will contribute a new robotic arm, known as Canadarm3, for the construction of Lunar Gateway, the space station which will orbit around the moon for exploration of the lunar surface.
Earlier this month, the Canadian government committed C$22.8 million (US$17.88 million) to the first phase of developing the new robotic arm, in which hundreds of Canadian companies are expected to be involved.
The Canadian minister said that throughout the mission, Canada’s continued leadership in space robotics will be a source of pride, as “all eyes will look to the sky as one of our astronauts becomes the first Canadian to travel around the Moon.”
On February 28, 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s involvement in the historic space programme, and in June this year, the government entered into a contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd, a global communications and information company involved in robotics and automation, for Canadarm3. However, many other research organisations are expected to be involved in the project.
The Canadian government is expected to invest $2.05 billion over 24 years for Canada’s space programme, which, according to the Prime Minister’s office, will create hundreds of jobs and contribute $100 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product.
