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International Effort Could Put First Canadian On the Moon
A long-term plan created by 14 cooperating space agencies around the world could mean that a Canadian astronaut may get to visit the moon sometime close to 2030. The International Space Exploration Coordination Group, of which Canada is a part, released last week an updated roadmap laying out intended projects, including a lunar visit.
"[CSA space exploration director Jean-Claude Piedboeuf] suggested astronauts could again be moon-bound in about 15 years. It would be the first human visit to the shining orb since 1972, when NASA astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt spent 75 hours there.
This time, there could well be Canadian visitors.
Their specialty: robotics. 'We're proposing a vision where Canada could have an astronaut, effectively a Canadian who will be in lunar space, either in orbit or on the moon and could operate a Canadian rover in the same way that Canadians operate a Canadarm on the space station,' Piedboeuf said."
Why? I love my Canadian friends, but with all the real problems awaiting solutions - why are we concerned with putting Canadians on the Moon? Scratching my head again...
1. Start with dimwitted redneck Americans who willingly refuse to understand why science (which is haaaaaaaaard) is of any use.
2. Show them that some other country that isn't 'Murka is getting their asses to the moon.
3. Then, tell them that country is Canada.
4. In the event that doesn't sink in, remind them that this is a country with evil-scary sooooocialized heaaaaalth caaaaaaare!!! (oooo, spooky!)
5. Maybe force a few "eh?"s in for extra super-scariness.
6. Remind them that America hasn't been to the moon in decades.
7. Witness the terrifying force of a few million drunken, blindly patriotic rednecks easily manipulated into restarting the space program.
8. Profit!
THAT'S why. Oh, Canada! We stand on guard for thee!