Canadians could go to moon, Mars, says Garneau [From the Canadian Hitch-Hiking Agency!]

Toronto Star ^ | 1/15/04 | Staff

[TastyManatees]

Canadians could go to moon, Mars, says Garneau
CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL - Canadian astronauts could be aboard the first manned space flights to the moon and Mars envisioned by U.S. President George W. Bush, the head of the Canadian Space Agency said today. Marc Garneau, Canada's first man in space two decades ago, said that Canadians could join the historic flights if the federal government makes a major financial commitment.

"There's the tantalizing possibility that a Canadian man or woman could go to the moon as part of that effort sometime in the second part of the next decade and then on to other places," Garneau said in an interview.

But he warned that the federal government would have to contribute major sums of money for the dream to become a reality.

"Over the next 20 years, it would be in the billions of dollars. There's no free ride."

Garneau unveiled his vision for manned Canadian space travel following a speech yesterday in which Bush unveiled a plan to develop new spacecraft to carry astronauts back to the moon by 2015.

Bush's election-year vision also calls for the construction of a long-term base on the moon that could be used as a launching pad to other places, including Mars.

Although the president implied that U.S. astronauts would lead the missions, he also invited other nations "to join us on this journey in a spirit of co-operation and friendship."

Garneau suggested countries that paid into the project could have a major role in supplying astronauts and technical expertise.

Canada's talents in robotics, drilling and mining could be applied on the moon and elsewhere, he said.

But Prime Minister Paul Martin has given no indication so far that he's prepared to make a major financial commitment to the massive project.

"In fairness, the government of Canada needs more details and . . . needs to make a decision about where it fits along its priorities," said Garneau.

[RightWhale]

Okay. I do respect IP rights. :)

[steveegg]

It started out as a sentence, morphed into an explanation on what the over/under is, and then mutated into a jigsaw ping for your tagline. Outside of the confines of online bulletin board communication, it isn't fit for human consumption.

[RightWhale]

It is an implied anacolouthic. Bread and butter to grammarians.

[steveegg]

It's been so long since I've studied grammar; the technical term isn't familiar. Like I said, the plebian explanation that it isn't fit for human consumption works for me.

[beelzepug]

So, we're going to the moon, then, eh? Do they have beer?

[mvpel]

They could just shut down their gun registry, and they'd have plenty of money to chip in for a Moon & Mars project.