Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his gratitude to the Artemis II astronauts during their visit to Ottawa, emphasizing that their recent journey around the moon has served as a source of inspiration for the entire nation. Carney highlighted the values of teamwork, dedication, courage, and human ingenuity demonstrated by the astronauts, stating that this mission marks just the beginning of what is possible.
The Artemis II crew, including Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons, along with NASA astronauts commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch, are currently in Ottawa and Montreal sharing their experiences from the mission.
During their visit, the astronauts are engaging in public events, interacting with students, meeting with stakeholders in the Canadian space sector, and participating in a limited number of interviews. The Artemis II mission, which took off on April 1 and involved circumnavigating the moon, set a new record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans.
This mission is a crucial step in NASA’s plan to return humans to the moon and lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars. Despite the risks involved, Carney emphasized that the mission was undertaken to pave the way for even greater opportunities in space exploration.
Hansen expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome received in Ottawa, contrasting the embrace of Canadians with the vastness of space. He presented Carney with a framed maple leaf patch that accompanied the crew on their journey. In return, Carney gifted Hansen with the Canadian flag that flew over Parliament’s Peace Tower on the day the Orion spacecraft completed its mission.
The crew also participated in a public event at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, where they discussed humanity’s return to the moon and interacted with children in attendance. Hansen touched upon the importance of unity and collaboration within the crew, drawing parallels to relationships on a global scale.
Later in the day, the crew moved to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau to share their mission experiences with parliamentarians and other stakeholders. The visit aims to further highlight Canada’s role in space exploration and inspire future generations to pursue scientific endeavors.