Your guide to organizing a watch party for the Artemis II launch
Celebrate the first Canadian around the Moon!
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will make history as the first Canadian to fly around the Moon – a defining moment for our nation and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to inspire Canadians of all ages.
That is why the CSA invites you to join thousands of Canadians across the country and gather to watch the launch of this historic mission.
To share your pride with other Canadians, we invite you to find a public party in a local science centre, museum, library, community centre or other location using our online map.
You can also organize your own watch party at school, at home or with your community using the tips and resources below.
Regardless of where you watch from, be sure to join the CSA livestream for Canadian and bilingual content about the mission.
Date and time
NASA has released the potential launch dates and times for the Artemis II mission. At the moment, the next opportunity opens up in . Updates will be shared on CSA social media.
IMPORTANT: There could be multiple launch attempts. Launches are complex, especially this one: it's the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years, and the first time that the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft will be used for a crewed mission. Also, launches are dependent on weather conditions.
IMPORTANT: Depending on the date, the launch might happen in the evening or late at night – but trust us, it's totally worth staying up for! Opportunities like this don't come around often. If you can't organize an event at the time of the launch, we encourage you to celebrate the next morning or at another time.
Journalists and employees of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) attend the viewing of the launch of Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques' mission to the International Space Station at the CSA headquarters. CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons and former astronaut Robert Thirsk were the hosts of the event. (Credit: CSA)
Party checklist for science centres, museums, libraries and cities
Learn about the mission
- Follow the CSA on social media for all launch updates.
- Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for educators to learn about mission-related and other STEM and outreach opportunities.
-
Browse our mission webpages and frequently asked questions to learn everything about the mission with a Canadian twist, including:
- the crew
- how they will live aboard the Orion capsule
- the rocket and capsule, and their trajectory
- the significance of Jeremy's mission patch
- mission milestones and the science that will be conducted
- the difference between Apollo and Artemis
- Get to know CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons, his Canadian backup.
- Consult our toolkits for educators for resources and activity ideas.
- Watch the Destination: Moon vlog series with Jeremy and other mission videos.
Add your party to the CSA online map
Send the name of your organization, the city and province/territory where you are located, and a link to the event details to activitespubliques-publicactivities@asc-csa.gc.ca before .
Invite people, print visuals, and prepare a presentation
- Create and send invitations.
-
Explore the CSA resources available:
- Mission photos and videos
-
Printables:
- Mission poster (11X17 or 24X36)
- Infographics
- Jeremy 2D (cardboard silhouette – life-size and mini version)
- Selfie frames
- Orion capsule cutout
- Colouring sheets
- Speakers' kits
- Media information kit
Note: If you are interested in a pre-recorded video message from Jeremy and/or promotional items, and have not already requested them, please contact activitespubliques-publicactivities@asc-csa.gc.ca.
Reminder: No CSA expert will be available to talk about the mission around launch time or during the mission. For any other speaker requests, please fill out our online form.
Develop school programming or activities around the mission
Check out the section for schools and youth organizations below if you plan on developing school programming or mission activities for your visitors.
Watch the CSA live launch event
Join the Canadian launch event livestreamed on the CSA's Facebook account and YouTube channel (available in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation).
Show your Canadian pride and share photos
Take photos during your party and share them on social media! Don't forget to tag the CSA accounts.
Party checklist for schools and youth organizations
Learn about the mission
- Follow the CSA on social media for all launch updates.
- Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter for educators to learn about mission-related and other STEM and outreach opportunities.
-
Browse our mission webpages and frequently asked questions to learn everything about the mission, including:
- the crew
- how they will live aboard the Orion capsule
- the rocket and its trajectory
- the significance of Jeremy's patch
- mission milestones and the science that will be conducted
- the difference between Apollo and Artemis
- Get to know CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons, his Canadian backup.
- Watch the Destination: Moon vlog series with Jeremy and other mission videos.
Teach your students about Canada's role in Artemis II
- Make it a theme day and have your students come wearing their space pyjamas or a space costume – they could even build their own!
- Present the mission to your students using our ready-to-use speakers' kit.
- Select a few mission vlogs or videos to show them as conversation starters or to introduce lessons.
- Set the mood with our Moon playlists.
-
Consult our mission activities, our toolkits and pages for educators and youth to organize fun learning activities and games. Here are some examples:
- Send your students' names around the Moon (or share the information with their parents to do it as a family)
- Have your students take our online space quizzes or organize a game show for your students to learn about the Moon:
- Encourage your students to play the Mission: Astronaut learning digital game.
- With permission, upload your students' photos to our digital astronaut cutout to turn them into an astronaut; print the files to decorate your classroom.
- 3D print miniature models of astronauts, SLS rockets and Orion capsules.
- Have your entire school participate in creating a time capsule to open the next time a Canadian astronaut flies to the Moon.
- During the mission, do a daily recap until splashdown. You can also print and display this infographic in class to keep track of where Orion and the crew are each day.
Decorate your classroom
- Use your students' space-themed arts and crafts or our colouring sheets, printable mission poster (11X17 or 24X36), photos, infographics or any other space-themed decorations.
- Create a photo booth using your decorations, posters as well as a mini-printable Jeremy 2D (printables).
- Prepare a reading corner for your students by making The Explorers Club e-book – featuring CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Canadian backup Jenni Gibbons – available on tablets or computers, or by printing a few copies. You can also add books from our space reading list and Indigenous Moon stories.
- If allowed by your school, have some theme-based snacks on launch day such as rocket cookies or rocket fruit skewers, Moon rock bites, star-shaped fruits and veggies, Swiss cheese Moon. Take the opportunity to talk to your students about space food and the Canadian items on Jeremy's menu and even show them some of our food videos!
Watch the CSA live launch event
Depending on the time of the launch, join the Canadian launch event livestreamed on the CSA's Facebook account and YouTube channel with your class or have a "replay party" in class the next morning to celebrate the launch (available in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation).
Show your Canadian pride and share photos
Take photos during your party and share them on social media! Don't forget to tag the CSA on social media.
Have your students draw a highlight of the launch or the mission or something that makes them proud about it, and mail them to CSA headquarters. Some of the drawings could be featured on our social media accounts!
Party checklist for gatherings of family and friends
Learn about the mission
- Follow the CSA on social media for all launch updates.
-
Browse our mission webpages and frequently asked questions to learn everything about the mission, including:
- the crew
- how they will live aboard the Orion capsule
- the rocket and capsule, and their trajectory
- the significance of Jeremy's patch
- mission milestones and the science that will be conducted
- the difference between Apollo and Artemis
- Meet CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Jenni Gibbons, his Canadian backup.
- Binge watch the Destination: Moon vlog series with Jeremy and other mission videos.
Create invitations
- Create invitations to send to your guests.
- Encourage your guests to come wearing their space pyjamas if the launch takes place at night or space costumes – they can even build their own!
Decorate and prepare snacks
- Prepare theme-based snacks such as rocket cookies or rocket fruit skewers, Moon rock bites, Moon crescent sandwiches, star-shaped fruits and veggies, Swiss cheese Moon. Be creative! You can also plan a full meal inspired by space food and the Canadian items on Jeremy's menu!
- Put up our printable mission poster (11X17 or 24X36), photos, infographics or space decorations.
- Create a photo booth using your decorations as well as printable Jeremy 2D and selfie frames (printables).
- Prepare a reading corner for your young guests by making The Explorers Club e-book – featuring CSA astronauts Jeremy Hansen and Canadian backup Jenni Gibbons – available on tablets or by printing a few copies of it along with our colouring pages. You can also add books from our space reading list and Indigenous Moon stories.
- 3D print miniature models of astronauts, SLS rockets and Orion capsules as party favours.
Prepare games and entertainment
- Send your name and those of your guests around the Moon (and surprise them with their own boarding pass at your party!)
- Set the mood with our Moon playlists.
- Present the mission to your guests using our ready-to-use speakers' kit.
- Show the mission overview video before the CSA livestream to inspire your guests and put them in the mood.
- Entertain your guests with our online space quizzes or our Moon game shows:
- Become an Artemis II crewmember by uploading your photo and those of your guests to our digital astronaut cutout (you can also do it ahead of time and use printouts of your guests to decorate your home).
- Consult our mission activities, including the Mission: Astronaut digital game, our toolkits and pages for educators and youth.
After the launch
- Create a time capsule with your guests to open the next time a Canadian astronaut flies to the Moon, have them record a short message to share their pride about the mission, to capture the excitement or remember highlights of your party.
- Challenge your guests to stay up to date on the mission until splashdown by following the CSA on social media and keeping track of the trajectory of Orion using this printable infographic.
Watch the CSA live launch event
At your party, join Canadians across the country by showing the Canadian launch event livestreamed on the CSA's Facebook account and YouTube channel (in both official languages, with simultaneous interpretation).
Show your Canadian pride and share photos
Take photos during your party and share them on social media! Don't forget to tag the CSA on social media.