Trump Fans Furious That NASA Is Allowing a Canadian on the Moon Mission

Key Points:

• NASA launched its historic Artemis 2 mission, marking the first time humans have been sent around the Moon in over 50 years, with a crew including the first Black person and first woman to visit the Moon.
• Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen's inclusion in the mission sparked controversy online, particularly among some supporters of former President Donald Trump, who questioned why a Canadian was part of the US-led mission.
• The backlash reflects a strain of xenophobic and isolationist sentiment, with some commentators invoking divisive rhetoric about Canada-US relations and even suggesting Canada should be annexed as the "51st state."
• Others responded with humor and context, noting that Canada's space agency was only founded in 1990 and highlighting the longstanding collaboration between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, including contributions like the Canadarm robotic arms.
• Hansen himself embraced his Canadian identity lightheartedly, bringing maple syrup and cookies aboard the Orion spacecraft and expressing enthusiasm for being part of the mission despite the online controversy.