LONGUEUIL, QC – Speaking at today’s Space Canada Horizons conference being held at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) headquarters, former NASA Chief Economist Alex MacDonald delivered a direct message to Canada’s space sector: adapt immediately to NASA’s recent strategic pivot, or risk falling behind.
Following NASA’s “Ignition” event, which placed the Lunar Gateway Program—and consequently, Canada’s planned Canadarm3 contribution—on indefinite pause , MacDonald outlined an urgent realignment for the CSA. With NASA now focusing its Artemis architecture on a permanent Moon base, Canada must shift its resources directly to lunar surface operations.
“NASA no longer has a clear near-term use for the Canadarm3,” MacDonald stated, noting the practical implications for Canada. “We need to rapidly pivot away from our gateway activities and focus immediately and with urgency on lunar surface robotics”.
MacDonald, a dual Canadian-U.S. citizen born in Canada, worked at NASA for approximately 17 years until December 2024 culminating as the agency’s first Chief Economist. MacDonald, now serving in a variety of part-time roles, is a potential candidate to replace Lisa Campbell as President of the CSA.
Immediate priorities for the CSA
While Canada’s Lunar Utility Vehicle has secured an official spot in Phase 3 of NASA’s Moon base architecture, MacDonald stressed that earlier integration is critical to long-term success. He recommended that the CSA redirect remaining Canadarm3 funds toward near-term lunar surface robotics wherever possible.
To maintain its recognized leadership in space robotics, MacDonald proposed several immediate action items:
- Secure Flight Opportunities: Purchase or negotiate two to three rides on Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) landers for launch between 2027 and 2028 to test Canadian surface robotics in the field.
- Integrate with Commercial Partners: Negotiate with major lunar cargo lander companies to ensure Canadian robotics serve as the primary mechanism for unloading large infrastructure payloads.
- Accelerate Existing Programs: Proceed quickly with a down-select to two teams for the Lunar Utility Vehicle to ensure delivery on a highly accelerated timeline.
A warning against complacency
MacDonald explicitly cautioned the Canadian space community against waiting for guidance from Washington or Ottawa. He pointed out that under NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s new directive, success or failure will be measured in months, not years.
“NASA has a lot of priorities right now, and I hate to say it, but helping Canada figure out how it’s going to adapt to the new strategy is not one of their priorities,” MacDonald warned. “That’s our job. And we need to do it both quickly and strategically”.
Expanding beyond robotics
Beyond its traditional stronghold in robotic arms, MacDonald identified several emerging sectors where Canadian industry could establish foundational roles in the new lunar architecture:
- Space Nuclear Power: Leveraging Canada’s status as the world’s second-largest uranium producer and its deep safety expertise from its CANDU reactor heritage, there is a distinct opportunity to partner with the U.S. to co-develop the first nuclear reactor on the lunar surface .
- Space Medical Systems: Canada has an opportunity to build on its medical leadership by integrating medical monitoring systems across various lunar vehicles and partners, which would concurrently advance remote healthcare capabilities back on Earth.
- Space Agricultural Systems: Technologies currently being tested in extreme terrestrial environments, such as the Narvik project in Nunavut, could directly contribute to fresh food production on the Moon.
Ultimately, MacDonald emphasized that Canada’s window for action is extremely tight, urging a commitment to be “first in” on the Moon base just as the nation was with the original Artemis accords.
“If Canada can respond this spring and summer to the challenge of urgency laid out by NASA in ignition, then we can demonstrate that not only were we excellent partners on Artemis II, but that we fully intend to keep up with our American colleagues,” he concluded.