Artemis II astronauts visited Parliament Hill in Ottawa this week to present Mark Carney with a Canadian flag that traveled around the moon [1].
The exchange symbolizes the international cooperation behind the mission and the return of human exploration to the lunar vicinity. As the first lunar mission in more than 50 years [2], Artemis II represents a significant milestone in global spaceflight and national pride for Canada.
During the visit, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen gave Carney the flag. Hansen said the flag "flew with us around the moon" [1]. In return, Carney presented the crew with a commemorative coin to mark the occasion [1].
The crew consists of four astronauts, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, who all returned safely to Earth [3]. Their journey was a record-breaking NASA mission designed to test systems for future lunar landings [3].
While some reports indicated the visit occurred on Tuesday, other sources said the crew arrived at Parliament Hill on Wednesday [4, 5]. The event served as a diplomatic gesture to celebrate the successful flyby and to inspire Canadians through the achievements of the crew [5].
Carney said to the astronauts that their mission around the moon inspired the country [5]. The presentation of the flag highlights Canada's specific contribution to the Artemis program through the inclusion of Hansen on the crew.
“"flew with us around the moon."”
The gift exchange between the Artemis II crew and Mark Carney underscores Canada's strategic role in the modern era of lunar exploration. By integrating Canadian personnel into NASA's flagship program, the mission secures Canada's presence in future deep-space governance and technology development, moving beyond the legacy of the Apollo era into a multilateral framework for space exploration.
