The federal government has announced a partnership with the U.S. which will see a Canadian astronaut orbiting the moon.
They’ll be joining their American counterparts on a wide-ranging project to establish a future space station, known as the Lunar Gateway, above the moon’s surface.
Officials say the Canadian astronaut won’t actually land on the moon, however future trips are also in the works.
The so-called Gateway Treaty calls for a second flight to the planned space station, which will also include a Canadian astronaut.
That will make Canada the second country to send an astronaut into deep space.
At this point, the first trip is planned for 2023. Ottawa has not said how much it will cost.
Earlier in December, the federal government committed $22.8-million to the first phase of a new robotic Canadarm that will be used for the moon station.
Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk says he and his colleagues are proud to be representing the country on this mission, adding that they are “over the moon.”
