Tag Archives: Moon

India joins China as the only two nations to have landers successfully land and operate on the Moon in the 21st century. Others, Israel, Japan and Russia have all failed, proving how difficult the task is at the moment.

The Canadian Space Agency has announced over $1.7 million in new funding for concept studies related to scientific research that may be performed on the Artemis Program’s Lunar Gateway station. This follows a Request for Proposals in December of 2022.

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is preparing to post another Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program request for proposals and has issued a reminder through Twitter of its letter of interest (LOI) notice which is due by August 22.

Ottawa needs to make investing in lunar technology a top economic priority, so that Canadian industry can win its share of the rapidly expanding extraterrestrial market.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen and administrator Martin Bergeron, spoke about Canada’s contribution to the Artemis program, and how Canada (and Canadian companies) were contributing to the return to the lunar surface, at the beginning of this week’s Canadian Lunar Workshop.

Between May 30 and June 1, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will host the 2nd Canadian Lunar Workshop. The virtual only event includes a full program that outlines Canada’s ambitious lunar plans.

After an initial review of the data from the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 lunar lander, ispace stated that as the lander was on final approach the “descent speed rapidly increased” after “the estimated remaining propellant reached at the lower threshold.” This resulted in a “hard landing,” essentially a crash landing.

As with any landing on the Moon there are many anxious moments. That was no different today, and even those around the world watching remotely through YouTube could sense it. At ispace mission control, and in the auditorium where executives, officials and invitees watched, looks spoke loudly. First there was the anticipation of a possible successful landing, then the resignation that something had gone wrong.

If all goes well, the ispace Japanese lander with Canadian technology onboard will land on the Moon on April 25 sometime after the landing sequence starts at 11:40 am ET (15:40 UTC).

Jeremy Hansen’s patience has paid off. After nearly 14 years as a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut accumulating skills including managing teams like the 2017 astronaut class’ trainers, he will be aboard the Artemis 2 mission that is returning humans to the Moon’s area in November 2024 or so.