The Artemis II crew successfully concluded their 10-day lunar mission with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on Friday at approximately 7:07 p.m. Central Time, CBC News reported.

Historic Lunar Flyby and Canadian First

The mission involved a flyby of the far side of the moon and represented the first crewed return from the moon since 1972. Jeremy Hansen became the first Canadian to venture into deep space during the mission. The broadcast highlighted the symbolic importance of the mission for Canada.

During the mission, the crew travelled over 100,000 miles from Earth and observed the globe from pole to pole. They also made an emotional request to name a newly discovered crater on the moon after a member of their astronaut family, Carol, the mother of astronaut Katie Read.

According to CBC News, retired Canadian astronauts Chris Hadfield and Dr. Roberta Bonder praised the mission's success. Hadfield described the mission as “exquisitely hard” and praised the crew for making it “look inevitably easy.” Bonder emphasized the international collaboration involved, highlighting the European service module and Hansen’s participation as key components of the mission’s success.

Other News

Beyond the Artemis II mission, the CBC broadcast also covered several other news items:

  • Liberal Party Convention: The federal Liberal convention is underway in Montreal, with the party nearing a majority government after recent floor crossings. Three by-elections are scheduled for Monday, with two considered safe Liberal seats in Ontario and one a tight race in Quebec.
  • High-Speed Rail Proposal: Backlash is growing in rural communities regarding a proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City. Concerns center around potential disruptions to farmland and expropriations. The project is estimated to cost $90 billion.
  • Labour Market: Canada’s unemployment rate remained at 6.7% in March, with the addition of 14,000 jobs. However, the broadcast noted that over 95,000 jobs have been lost earlier in the year, particularly impacting young workers.
  • Prince Harry Defamation Case: Prince Harry is facing a defamation lawsuit from an African charity he co-founded in 2006 to support young people living with HIV and AIDS.

Update — 08:37

Following the splashdown, retired Canadian astronauts Chris Hadfield and Dr. Roberta Bonder shared their perspectives. Hadfield described the mission as “exquisitely hard” but praised the crew for making it “look inevitably easy.” Bonder highlighted the international collaboration, specifically the European service module and Hansen’s participation, as key to the mission’s success.

The crew requested that a newly discovered crater on the moon be named after Carol Read, the mother of astronaut Katie Read. Additionally, the broadcast reported that the crew is in good health, with all four astronauts described as feeling “great.”

Recent developments also include discussion of a proposed high-speed rail line between Toronto and Quebec City, facing backlash from rural communities, and a stabilization of Canada's labour market with a 6.7% unemployment rate in March, despite earlier job losses.

Update — 10:22

Following the splashdown, retired astronaut Chris Hadfield praised the mission as “exquisitely hard” and noted the crew made it “look inevitably easy.” Dr. Roberta Bonder highlighted the international collaboration, specifically the European service module and Hansen’s participation, as key to the mission’s success. She also emphasized the importance of Hansen as a symbol for Canadians, representing the best of a generation of explorers.

The broadcast detailed NASA’s research into the effects of deep space travel on the human body, including radiation exposure and immune system changes. Orion is equipped with six new radiation sensors, and NASA is utilizing “Avatar” organ chips with astronaut cells to study radiation’s impact. They are also tracking viral reactivation and cognitive function using a “space age smartwatch” called Archer.

A Chinese green tech company, Envision, is offering wind power technology to Canada. The company’s CEO, Lei Zhang, believes this technology could lower energy costs. However, the offer raises concerns about integrating Chinese AI tech into Canada’s energy grid.