Space exploration entering ‘new era’ with private firms: Canadian astronaut
-
Loading... - Clara Andersen
- 04 May 2023
- 61 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Jeremy Hansen, who will be flying the Canadian flag around the moon for the first time, says Canada is on course for more space history amid a “new era “of private companies working more actively in the industry.
The Ontario astronaut is among the four-person crew announced this week for NASA’s upcoming Artemis II mission and will become the only non-American to leave Earth’s orbit when the mission blasts off next year.
“It’s a really big deal for me, but I’m very humbled and super proud to do it,” said Hansen in an interview Sunday with The West Block‘s host Mercedes Stephenson.
With the rise of Space X founded by billionaire Elon Musk and other private firms, there is a growing push toward commercialization.
Despite the regulatory challenges, Hansen said this is “bringing huge dividends” to the industry and countries like Canada need to keep working so as not to be outpaced as space exploration becomes more commercial.
The role of private firms in the space industry is not negative, he says.
“The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages from my perspective and that’s why you’re seeing so much change in space, because we’ve really hit a new era.”
The Artemis II mission is scheduled for launch in November 2024.
If successful, this will be the first time humans get that close to the moon since the Apollo program more than 50 years ago. Read More…
