OTTAWA – CBC News covered the successful return of the Artemis II astronauts on Thursday, marking the first crewed return from lunar orbit since 1972. The crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 7:07 p.m. Central Time, following a mission that included a flyby of the far side of the moon.

Artemis II Mission Details

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen was among the four crew members aboard the Orion spacecraft. According to the broadcast, the mission aimed to gather data on the effects of space travel on the human body, including the immune system and cognitive function. Astronauts provided saliva samples and wore a device called ARCHER, a “space-age smartwatch” designed to collect behavioral data. Researchers noted potential changes in vision during the mission, with one astronaut reporting improved nearsightedness in space.

NASA is planning further Artemis missions, including Artemis 3, scheduled for next year, which will test docking with a moon lander, and Artemis 4, planned for 2028, aiming to land astronauts on the moon again. The ultimate goal is to establish a moon base, as stated during the CBC News broadcast.

Concerns Over Chinese Energy Tech

The CBC News program also addressed a proposal for a Chinese green tech company, Envision, to export wind power technology to Canada. Lei Zhang, the company’s founder, has discussed the possibility with Canadian figures, including Prime Minister Mark Carney. Envision’s technology utilizes AI to manage energy grids and includes a green hydrogen production model.

However, the potential integration of Chinese AI technology into Canada’s energy grid has raised concerns. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, as reported by CBC News, expressed worries about a geopolitical rival potentially having control over Canada’s energy supply. Greenpeace China noted that while China is rapidly expanding renewable energy, it continues to approve new coal plants, maintaining a reliance on coal as a “security blanket.”

The broadcast highlighted the debate over the risks and benefits of adopting this technology, with some questioning the security implications of relying on a Chinese-operated system.