Jeremy Hansen made history as the first Canadian astronaut to fly on a lunar mission, serving as a Mission Specialist on Artemis II. A Canadian Space Agency astronaut and Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, Jeremy joined the crew as part of an international partnership that highlights how modern space exploration is built on global cooperation and shared ambition.

Raised in Ontario, Jeremy’s career reflects a lifelong dedication to exploration, engineering and service. Before Artemis II, he worked extensively on astronaut training and international mission planning, preparing crews for the challenges of deep space travel. His role on Artemis II helped validate systems that will enable future lunar landings and, eventually, missions to Mars.

During the mission, Jeremy spoke with wonder about viewing Earth from such an extraordinary distance, capturing the emotional impact of spaceflight as well as its scientific importance. Reflecting on the experience, he said:

“To get big things done like this – to travel to the Moon – you need a big team behind you.”

Photo credit NASA/Josh Valcarcel