Which Canadian Space Agency astronaut is part of the Artemis II mission crew?

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen is a mission specialist aboard Artemis II, a landmark spaceflight that marks humanity's return to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Launched on April 1, 2026, the ten-day mission involves a flyby around the Moon and back to Earth, serving as the first crewed test flight of NASA's Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Hansen's participation is particularly historic as he is the first Canadian and the first non-American to venture beyond low Earth orbit.

Hansen, originally from London, Ontario, has a distinguished background that prepared him for this momentous journey. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at the age of 12, where he became a glider pilot, and later served as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Selected as an astronaut by the Canadian Space Agency in 2009, he has undergone extensive training, including living in an undersea habitat as part of a NASA mission simulation. Artemis II is his inaugural spaceflight.

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in NASA's broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on and around the Moon and eventually pave the way for crewed missions to Mars. Canada's contribution to this ambitious program, specifically providing the Canadarm3 robotic arm for the lunar Gateway space station, secured two astronaut flights to the Moon, with Hansen's mission being the first. The mission's primary goal is to thoroughly test the Orion spacecraft's vital systems, including life support, navigation, and communications, in the deep space environment, ensuring everything is prepared for future lunar landing endeavors.