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“The moon is 1,000 times further than the ISS, so it’s going to have to operate autonomously.”

Photo by HO / AFP/Getty Images

As integrator for Gateway’s robotics, he adds, Canada will help assemble and maintain the station, as well as conduct scientific experiments. He also expects to see Canada develop new niches for space, such as medical support. “We see that there’s a clear potential for a Canadian role, not only for maintaining the health of our astronauts, but also creating these technologies that will help with the health-care system.”

He cites as an example the bio-analyzer that Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques carried with him on the ISS. The device can analyze blood, urine and saliva samples in real time (think of the medical tricorder used in episodes of Star Trek, Leclerc says).

“You can imagine the potential if one day you have this instrument available on your doctor’s desk and he’ll be able to perform live on you — you won’t have to go get a blood sample and wait two weeks for results. This is the kind of technology that is needed in space and that we see having direct applications for all Canadians.”

“The ultimate goal,” he adds, “is to use the experience on ISS in lower earth orbit to go further, to go to the moon, around the moon, and then to Mars.

“Mars is still the El Dorado, the ultimate destination for all of us partners in space exploration.”

Going to the moon, he adds, echoing the words of NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, is no longer a technical challenge; it’s a political one. But things look promising at the moment. At his Fourth of July speech in Washington, President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. was willing to push the space envelope. “I want you to know that we’re going to be back on the moon very soon,” he said to Apollo flight director Kranz, “and, someday soon, we will plant the American flag on Mars.”