Western planetary geologist to lead science for Canada’s lunar rover 

A small rover on a lunar landscape. Illustration by Canadensys (2022) - The Government of Canada announced today that Canadensys Aerospace has received a contract to design and build Canada's first lunar rover, which will be sent to the Moon's south pole region as early as 2026. Western planetary geologist Gordon "Oz" Osinski will serve as principal investigator and scientific lead on the project. His work will involve coordinating the science team, developing the overall science plan for the mission, working with the various institutions to finalize the development of their instruments, and analyzing satellite data from the Moon to identify potential landing sites. Gordon "Oz” Osinski "I'm honestly overwhelmed, and it hasn't really sunk in yet," said Osinski, an earth sciences professor. "It's a cliché but I truly feel this is a culmination of everything I've worked towards throughout my academic career. It's very, very exciting." Initiated under the Canadian Space Agency's Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP) , the lunar rover will demonstrate key technologies for future lunar exploration activities and has scientific objectives in the areas of geology, shadowed regions and volatiles, as well as astronaut health and life sciences.