The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET today for the first crewed lunar mission in more than fifty years. And for the first time, Canada is on board!
Colonel Jeremy Hansen is a Canadian astronaut, fighter pilot, physicist and former aquanaut. He is one of the four-astronaut crew of Artemis II that will hopefully lift off from Kennedy Space Centre on an approximately 10-day mission.
Married with three children, he enjoys sailboat cruising and racing, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
đź“· @astro_jeremy
Born in London, Ontario in 1976 – he celebrated his 50th birthday last month – Colonel Hansen’s path to space began early. At age 12, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, earning both his glider pilot wings and private pilot licence before turning 18.
Before joining the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2009, Hansen served as a CF‑18 fighter pilot, flying with multiple tactical fighter squadrons and supporting NORAD operations. He became the first Canadian to lead a NASA astronaut class in 2017.
Hansen has also participated in advanced analog missions, including the ESA CAVES program (living underground for six days) and NEEMO 19, where he lived on the ocean floor as part of deep‑space mission simulation.
Now assigned to Artemis II, Hansen stands poised to become the first Canadian in history to travel to the Moon—a milestone moment for Canada’s role in global space exploration.
The Mission Ahead
Once launched atop NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion spacecraft will carry the crew beyond the Moon’s far side—territory that’s only been seen firsthand by a handful of humans. The mission marks the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972 that astronauts will journey into deep space.
Artemis II will hopefully set the stage for humans to walk on the Moon again and initiate the foundation for long‑duration lunar habitation—and eventually, missions to Mars.
A Proud Moment for Canada
Jeremy Hansen’s role in Artemis II is more than a personal triumph—it highlights Canada’s longstanding partnership in spaceflight and the strength of our scientific, military, and educational institutions.
