Canada is a world leader in space robotics, and next year, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen is set to fly past the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis II mission. In this GeoMinute, we take a look back at some milestones on Canada’s pathway to the stars.

Video/photo credits:

• Technicians testing Alouette 1. Courtesy of the Canadian Space Agency.
• Launch of the Thor–Agena rocket on September 29, 1962, at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Courtesy of the Canadian Space Agency.
• Alouette satellite. Courtesy of the Canadian Space Agency.
• Rotating Earth. Envato Elements.
• Launch of Canada’s Sapphire Satellite. Courtesy of NASA (KSC-08pd3405).
• Artist rendition of the Department of National Defence’s Sapphire satellite, developed by MDA. Courtesy of MDA with a modified background from Envato Elements.
• Astronaut Chris Hadfield on a mission STS-100 spacewalk. Courtesy of NASA/Flickr (STS100-395-032).
• Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield. Courtesy of NASA/Flickr (JSC2012-E-107897).
• Astronaut Chris Hadfield on mission STS-100 spacewalk. Courtesy of NASA/Flickr (STS100-E-5236) with a modified background from Envato Elements.
• Jeremy Hansen flying a jet. Courtesy of the Canadian Space Agency.
• Artemis II Moon mission crew. Courtesy of James Blair/NASA & the Canadian Space Agency.
• Footage of Jeremy Hansen during training. Courtesy of Canadian Space Agency/NASA/4 Wing Cold Lake/ESA CAVES – V. Crobu and S. Sechi/Ulnooweg Education Centre.
• Rotating Moon. Courtesy of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera.

This project is made possible in part by the Government of Canada.