{"id":11183,"date":"2024-02-08T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/?p=11183"},"modified":"2024-01-24T05:54:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T05:54:13","slug":"what-delays-to-the-artemis-ii-and-iii-missions-mean-for-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/what-delays-to-the-artemis-ii-and-iii-missions-mean-for-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"What delays to the Artemis II and III missions mean for\u00a0Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"\n  <figure>\n    <img  decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569136\/original\/file-20240112-27-y8h866.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&#038;rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C1279&#038;q=45&#038;auto=format&#038;w=754&#038;fit=clip\" >\n      <figcaption>\n        The Artemis I Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. The successful Artemis I mission was the first in an increasingly complex planned series of missions, which have now been delayed.\n        <span class=\"attribution\"><a class=\"source\" href=\"https:\/\/images.nasa.gov\/details\/KSC-20220614-PH-CSH01_0043\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(NASA\/Cory Huston)<\/a><\/span>\n      <\/figcaption>\n  <\/figure>\n\n<span><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/gordon-osinski-1399925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gordon Osinski<\/a>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/western-university-882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Western University<\/a><\/em><\/span>\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100px; border: none; position: relative; z-index: 1;\" allowtransparency=\"\" allow=\"clipboard-read; clipboard-write\" src=\"https:\/\/narrations.ad-auris.com\/widget\/the-conversation-canada\/what-delays-to-the-artemis-ii-and-iii-missions-mean-for-canada\" width=\"100%\" height=\"400\"><\/iframe>\n\n<p>On Jan. 9, NASA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-shares-progress-toward-early-artemis-moon-missions-with-crew\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a> it would be shifting the launch of Artemis II to September 2025. Artemis III \u2014 the first mission to land humans on the surface of the moon since 1972 \u2014 was moved to September 2026. <\/p>\n\n<p>What do these delays mean for Canada\u2019s plans to explore the moon?<\/p>\n\n<p>I am a professor, an explorer and a planetary geologist. For the past decade, I have been helping to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacerocks.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">train Canadian and U.S. astronauts<\/a> in geology. I am also the principal investigator for Canada\u2019s first ever <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/astronomy\/moon-exploration\/first-canadian-rover-to-explore-the-moon.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rover mission<\/a>, and a member of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/nasa-selects-geology-team-for-the-first-crewed-artemis-lunar-landing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis III Geology Team<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure>\n            <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"440\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PAvJ550dlc0?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n            <figcaption><span class=\"caption\">Global News reports on NASA\u2019s announcement to delay Artemis II and III missions.<\/span><\/figcaption>\n          <\/figure>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-artemis-program\">The Artemis program<\/h2>\n\n<p>It has been 52 years since humans last walked on the surface of the moon. Since then, humanity has not ventured beyond <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esa.int\/ESA_Multimedia\/Images\/2020\/03\/Low_Earth_orbit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">low Earth orbit<\/a>, about the distance from Halifax to Fredericton, or Toronto to Ottawa. <\/p>\n\n<p>In Greek mythology, Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and the twin sister of Apollo \u2014 a fitting name for the program that will take humans back to the moon. Unlike Apollo, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis program<\/a> also has the explicit goals of establishing the first long-term presence on the moon \u2014 similar to Antarctica <a href=\"https:\/\/oceanwide-expeditions.com\/blog\/a-look-into-the-international-research-stations-of-antarctica\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">research outposts<\/a> \u2014 and sending the first astronauts to Mars. <\/p>\n\n<p>The Artemis missions are ambitious to say the least, and represent the next major collaborative international effort, building on the success of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Space Station<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n<p>Indeed, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/general\/nasa-welcomes-angola-as-newest-artemis-accords-signatory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">addition of Angola in November<\/a>, 33 nations have now signed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemis-accords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis Accords<\/a>. The Accords lay out a common set of principles for the exploration and use of outer space. Canada was one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/artemis-accords-explained\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original eight countries<\/a> to sign these accords. <\/p>\n\n<p>A core principle of the Artemis Accords is to enhance peaceful relationships between nations, which is needed now, perhaps more than ever since the Cold War.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"failure-is-not-an-option\">Failure is not an option<\/h2>\n\n<p>After the success of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/astronomy\/moon-exploration\/artemis-missions.asp#artemis-i\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis I<\/a> mission in late 2022, most people probably thought there would be a quick succession of missions and we would be back on the lunar surface in no time. While the originally planned two years between Artemis I and II may sound a long time, it is in terms of space exploration, where the development of missions is often measured in decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The major reason for this is that space is incredibly unforgiving. From withstanding the huge G-forces and vibrations as the rocket accelerates to over 40,000 kilometres an hour during launch \u2014 the velocity needed to escape Earth\u2019s gravity \u2014 to the extremes of temperature, designing technologies for space is hard and costly. <\/p>\n\n<p>Every piece of the Artemis infrastructure must be tested and tested again to make sure it can withstand the rigours of space. The environment of the moon is a particularly challenging thermal environment, with a staggering 300 C temperature difference between the lunar day and night. <\/p>\n\n<p>Some of this testing can be done in a laboratory; however, once a certain scale is reached, this becomes impossible. Take SpaceX\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/vehicles\/starship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Starship<\/a>, the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown and a key part of the architecture for Artemis. <\/p>\n\n<p>On Nov. 18, its second launch, the Starship exploded after <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/d41586-023-03624-z\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reaching its goal of entering space<\/a>. SpaceX engineers gathered a wealth of data to improve the design of Starship. However, this test made it clear that this rocket, which will be used to land the Artemis III crew on the surface of the moon, simply wasn\u2019t going to be ready for a 2025 launch. <\/p>\n\n<figure>\n            <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"440\" height=\"260\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qc_MnzaYjNY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe>\n            <figcaption><span class=\"caption\">The second test flight of Starship from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on Nov. 18, 2023.<\/span><\/figcaption>\n          <\/figure>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-astronauts-long-wait\">The astronauts\u2019 long wait<\/h2>\n\n<p>The stakes could not be higher for the Artemis II mission as onboard, for the first time, will be four astronauts, including Canadian <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/astronauts\/canadian\/active\/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jeremy Hansen<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n<p>While not scheduled to land on the surface of the moon, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/artemis-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis II<\/a> is still an incredibly challenging mission that carries with it an element of risk that comes with any \u201cfirst.\u201d Indeed, this will be the first time humans will fly in NASA\u2019s Orion spacecraft and the first mission to take humans beyond low Earth orbit since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/apollo-17\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apollo 17 in 1972<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n<p>If this mission is successful, these four astronauts will have boldly gone farther from our home planet than any other humans, ever. So it makes sense to take time, especially considering some of the obstacles still facing Artemis II.<\/p>\n\n<p>On the plus side, the Artemis II crew will have more time for training. Having been involved in providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/blog\/2023\/09\/19\/15-photos-of-lunar-geology-training-in-canada.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">geology training<\/a> to two of the Artemis II crew last September \u2014 Hansen and Christina Koch \u2014 having an additional few months for training will definitely not go to waste. <\/p>\n\n<p>This delay will also give Canadian astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/astronauts\/canadian\/active\/bio-jenni-gibbons.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jenni Gibbons<\/a> time to come up to speed with training as part of the back-up crew for Artemis 2 \u2014 a job she was only assigned in November.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"align-center zoomable\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img  decoding=\"async\"  alt=\"three people study a rock outcrop\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=335&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=335&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=335&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=420&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=420&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569133\/original\/file-20240112-25-l4b6nh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=420&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\" ><\/a>\n            <figcaption>\n              <span class=\"caption\">Canadian Space Agency astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons with Gordon Osinski at the Kamestastin Lake impact structure, Labrador.<\/span>\n              <span class=\"attribution\"><a class=\"source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/multimedia\/search\/image\/18645\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(Canadian Space Agency)<\/a><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n          <\/figure>\n\n<h2 id=\"robots-to-the-moon\">Robots to the moon<\/h2>\n\n<p>On the same day that NASA announced the delays to the Artemis program, the U.S. company Astrobotic announced that its Peregrine lunar lander suffered a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/astrobotic-peregrine-moon-lander-propulsion-failure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">critical loss of propellent<\/a>\u201d not long after launch. This means there is no chance of it being able to land successfully on the moon.<\/p>\n\n<p>The lander has been gathering valuable data while its fuel supplies lasted, so all is not lost. This is also the first launch as part of NASA\u2019s new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Commercial Lunar Payload Services<\/a> (CLPS) initiative. <\/p>\n\n<p>Despite the failures and setbacks in the Artemis and CLPS programs, 2024 promises to be the most exciting year for lunar exploration in decades. Astrobotic is planning two more launches, including NASA\u2019s ambitious <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/viper\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover<\/a> (VIPER). <\/p>\n\n<p>Two other U.S. companies, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intuitivemachines.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Intuitive Machines<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/fireflyspace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Firefly Aerospace<\/a>, are also scheduled to launch their first lunar missions. And even sooner, the Japanese space agency <a href=\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JAXA<\/a> has scheduled the landing of its <a href=\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/press\/2023\/12\/20231205-1_e.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Smart Lander for Investigating Moon<\/a> (SLIM) on Jan. 19 \u2014 if successful, this would make Japan only the fifth country to do so.<\/p>\n\n<p>I will be watching these upcoming CLPS missions closely, as one of these companies will take the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/astronomy\/moon-exploration\/first-canadian-rover-to-explore-the-moon.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian Lunar Rover<\/a> to the moon no earlier than 2026. Even before this mission, thanks to the Canadian Space Agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/funding-programs\/programs\/leap\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program<\/a>, Canadian companies such as <a href=\"https:\/\/missioncontrolspace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mission Control Space Services<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadensys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadensys<\/a> are working on software and hardware to contribute to various CLPS missions.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"align-center zoomable\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=0%2C6%2C2044%2C1293&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img  decoding=\"async\"  alt=\"a cube-like robot on a grey surface\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;rect=0%2C6%2C2044%2C1293&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=382&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=382&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=382&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=480&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=480&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569135\/original\/file-20240112-19-uphqeq.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=480&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\" ><\/a>\n            <figcaption>\n              <span class=\"caption\">Artist\u2019s rendition of Astrobotic\u2019s Peregrine lander on the surface of the moon.<\/span>\n              <span class=\"attribution\"><span class=\"source\">(Astrobiotic)<\/span><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n          <\/figure>\n\n<h2 id=\"canadarm3-and-the-lunar-gateway\">Canadarm3 and the Lunar Gateway<\/h2>\n\n<p>Almost lost in the details of NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-shares-progress-toward-early-artemis-moon-missions-with-crew\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announcement about Artemis II and III<\/a> was the statement that Artemis IV remains on track to launch in September 2028. In addition to landing two astronauts on the lunar surface, a major objective for Artemis IV will be the continued assembly of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/gateway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lunar Gateway<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n<p>The Gateway is a small space station that will act as an outpost orbiting the moon, providing support for lunar surface missions and, in the longer term, as a staging point for further deep space exploration. The Gateway will be the home for Canada\u2019s biggest financial contribution to Artemis: <a href=\"https:\/\/mda.space\/en\/canadarm3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadarm3<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"align-center zoomable\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img  decoding=\"async\"  alt=\"a robotic arm in space\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-ls-sizes=\"(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip\"  data-pk-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/569137\/original\/file-20240112-23-wj99xl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w\" ><\/a>\n            <figcaption>\n              <span class=\"caption\">An artist\u2019s concept of Canadarm3 located on the exterior of the Gateway.<\/span>\n              <span class=\"attribution\"><a class=\"source\" href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/multimedia\/search\/image\/12642\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(Canadian Space Agency, NASA)<\/a><\/span>\n            <\/figcaption>\n          <\/figure>\n\n<p>Currently being built by <a href=\"https:\/\/mda.space\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadian company MDA Space<\/a> with the support of dozens of Canadian partners and suppliers, Canadarm3 represents the next generation of space robotics. In contrast to the ISS, astronauts will not always be present on the Gateway, so Canadarm3 is being built with advanced AI-enabled sensors to enable autonomous operations.<\/p>\n\n<p>Just like what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/canadarm\/about.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadarm<\/a> did for the Space Shuttle Program and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asc-csa.gc.ca\/eng\/iss\/canadarm2\/history-of-canadarm2.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Canadarm2<\/a> did for the International Space Station, Canadarm3 will be an iconic reminder of Canada\u2019s international status as a spacefaring nation.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"The Conversation\"  width=\"1\"  height=\"1\"  style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important\"  referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"  class=\" pk-lazyload\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/220830\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" ><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n\n<p><span><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/gordon-osinski-1399925\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gordon Osinski<\/a>, Professor in Earth and Planetary Science, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/western-university-882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Western University<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n<p>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-delays-to-the-artemis-ii-and-iii-missions-mean-for-canada-220830\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Artemis I Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft. 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