Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
In this special episode, I sit down with Ken Podwalski, the Gateway Program Manager at the Canadian Space Agency, for a look at Canada’s next leap in space robotics. Canada’s contributions to space have been groundbreaking, from the Canadarm on the Space Shuttle to Canadarm2 on the ISS, and now, they’re building the most advanced version yet—Canadarm3 for the Gateway Station. Ken dives deep into the challenges of building robotics that can handle the unique demands of lunar orbit, as well as the exciting new Canadian Lunar Utility Rover designed to help build infrastructure on the Moon’s surface. Plus, we even discuss how these innovations set the stage for future missions to Mars. This conversation opened my eyes to just how much Canada is doing to make a long-term human presence on the Moon possible—trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
00:00 - Canada's Executive Director of the Gateway Program, Ken Podwalski
01:16 - Canadarm2 on ISS
02:34 - What comes after the International Space Station?
02:54 - Gateway Station for Artemis
03:36 - Canadarm3
05:49 - Challenges of solar storms
06:10 - Challenges of lunar dust (regolith)
08:01 - Thermal challenges
08:56 - When will Canadarm3 launch?
09:25 - Canadian Lunar Utility Vehicle
10:19 - Canada's mission from Moon to Mars
Like the Canadarm3 shirt? Buy your's here! etsy.com/listing/1773924910/canadarm-3-shirt-space-csa-enthusiast?ref=listings_manager_grid
In this special episode, I sit down with Ken Podwalski, the Gateway Program Manager at the Canadian Space Agency, for a look at Canada’s next leap in space robotics. Canada’s contributions to space have been groundbreaking, from the Canadarm on the Space Shuttle to Canadarm2 on the ISS, and now, they’re building the most advanced version yet—Canadarm3 for the Gateway Station. Ken dives deep into the challenges of building robotics that can handle the unique demands of lunar orbit, as well as the exciting new Canadian Lunar Utility Rover designed to help build infrastructure on the Moon’s surface. Plus, we even discuss how these innovations set the stage for future missions to Mars. This conversation opened my eyes to just how much Canada is doing to make a long-term human presence on the Moon possible—trust me, you don’t want to miss it!
00:00 - Canada's Executive Director of the Gateway Program, Ken Podwalski
01:16 - Canadarm2 on ISS
02:34 - What comes after the International Space Station?
02:54 - Gateway Station for Artemis
03:36 - Canadarm3
05:49 - Challenges of solar storms
06:10 - Challenges of lunar dust (regolith)
08:01 - Thermal challenges
08:56 - When will Canadarm3 launch?
09:25 - Canadian Lunar Utility Vehicle
10:19 - Canada's mission from Moon to Mars
Like the Canadarm3 shirt? Buy your's here! etsy.com/listing/1773924910/canadarm-3-shirt-space-csa-enthusiast?ref=listings_manager_grid
