Following their successful 10-day lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew visited Ottawa today to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney and students, marking the astronauts’ first official visit to the nation’s capital since returning to Earth.
During the the meeting, Prime Minister Carney welcomed the crew and emphasized that the Canadian public followed the mission closely. He also took the opportunity to acknowledge Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jenni Gibbons for her operational role during the flight, thanking her for serving as CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) to keep the crew on schedule and guide them safely home.
Reflecting on the historic nature of the flight, Carney addressed the inherent dangers of deep space exploration, framing the mission as a necessary stepping stone for the country’s broader space ambitions.
“This mission, which involves some risk, hadn’t been done. This is as far as any people had gone into space,” Carney said. “But it was risk for a reason, and risk to set up even bigger opportunities. We’re going to have a chance to talk about what Canada can do to help contribute to that.”
Carney added that the successful flight served as a lesson to Canadians of what teamwork, dedication, and human ingenuity are capable of achieving.
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen responded by expressing gratitude for the warm reception. He echoed the Prime Minister’s forward-looking sentiment, emphasizing that the mission serves to validate Canada’s technological capabilities and strategic investments in the global space sector.
“I really resonate with your words, sir, about just shining a light back on Canada about what we are capable of on the world stage,” Hansen said. “Artemis II is just a step in a much longer journey for us, and like you, we can’t wait to be part of what’s next.”
The public appearance included a symbolic exchange of history to mark the milestone of the lunar flight. Hansen presented the Prime Minister with a Canadian flag that flew aboard the Orion spacecraft as it travelled around the Moon.
In return, Carney presented Hansen with a commemorative coin alongside a unique piece of Canadian history: the Canadian flag that flew atop Parliament’s Peace Tower on the day the Artemis II capsule safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
“That is a true honour,” Hansen said upon receiving the Peace Tower flag. “I felt like Canada was with us as we flew around the Moon, and the fact that this was flying that day just means a lot.”