Canada's role in Moon exploration

Countries from around the world are getting ready to send humans farther into our solar system, beyond the International Space Station (ISS). Nearly 400,000 km away from our planet, the Moon represents a crucial stepping stone in humanity's quest to travel onwards to Mars.

Canada has officially announced its participation in the exciting next chapter of Moon exploration, which will include:

1. a smart robotic system known as Canadarm3 for the Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the Moon
2. a new program for innovative Canadian science and technology designed for the Moon

Canada's contribution to the Lunar Gateway

Building on a strong legacy of international collaboration in space exploration, partners in the ISS, including Canada, are planning the development and construction of the Lunar Gateway, which is being led by the United States. The Gateway will serve as a science laboratory, a testbed for new technologies, and a hub for operations and exploration missions to the lunar surface.

Canada's contribution to the Lunar Gateway will be Canadarm3, a smart robotic system which includes a next-generation robotic arm as well as equipment and specialized tools. Using cutting-edge software and advances in artificial intelligence, this highly-autonomous system will be able to:

• maintain, repair and inspect the Gateway
• capture visiting vehicles
• relocate Gateway modules
• help astronauts during spacewalks
• enable science both in lunar orbit and on the surface of the Moon

The ability to perform these tasks without human intervention will be vital as the Gateway will not be crewed continuously, and communications delays caused by its lunar orbit will prevent direct real-time control of the robotic system from Earth.

Empowering innovative Canadian science and technology

The Canadian Space Agency is also launching a new initiative known as the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP). This program will prepare Canada's space sector for lunar exploration by offering a wide range of opportunities for Canadian science and technology activities in lunar orbit or on the Moon's surface.

LEAP's objectives are to:

• enable Canadian businesses and academic institutions to develop and conduct science experiments designed for lunar conditions
• advance and demonstrate innovative technologies on or around the Moon
• evaluate potential deep-space health technologies that will also provide direct benefits here on Earth

Explore further

• The Lunar Gateway
• The future of space exploration: beyond the International Space Station
• Canadarm, Canadarm2, and Canadarm3 – A comparative table

Date modified:

2019-07-25