Canadian Astronaut To Join Historic Artemis II Lunar Flyby Mission In 2024

Key Highlights

• Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen was selected to join the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission in 2024, making him the first Canadian to explore beyond Earth’s orbit.
• Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone for Canada and international collaboration in establishing a sustainable presence on the moon and paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond.

NASA has selected Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen to join a lunar flyby mission in 2024, making him the first Canadian to explore beyond Earth’s orbit. Hansen, a former fighter pilot, will join three US astronauts on the historic crewed mission to the moon, named Artemis II, which will be the first since the end of the Apollo program 50 years ago. 

The lunar flyby mission will also include: 

1. The first female astronaut, Christina Koch 
2. The first African American astronaut, Victor Glover.

Jeremy Hansen To Become First Canadian Astronaut To Explore Beyond Earth’s Orbit

At 12 years old, Hansen began his aviation journey by joining the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. Following his service as a fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2004 to 2009, he was recruited for the Canadian Space Agency’s astronaut program. 

Despite a few Canadian astronauts having traveled to space, including Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to perform a spacewalk, none have traveled beyond Earth’s orbit.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his excitement for Hansen’s selection and described him as an exceptional individual who will make all Canadians proud. NASA and the Canadian Space Agency announced the crew members at an event near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Artemis II Mission: A Significant Milestone for Canada and International Collaboration

Artemis II, the first crewed flight of NASA’s Apollo successor program aimed at returning astronauts to the moon’s surface this decade, follows the successful completion of Artemis I in December 2022. The inaugural launch of NASA’s powerful next-generation mega-rocket and newly built Orion spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight lasted 25 days.

The mission will be a significant milestone for Canada, underscoring its commitment to space exploration and its continued collaboration with international partners. Canadian astronaut, Hansen’s selection also highlights NASA’s efforts to diversify its astronaut corps and ensure representation from various backgrounds and ethnicities.

The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable presence on the moon, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. Hansen’s participation in the historic Artemis II mission is a testament to his exceptional skills and training and Canada’s contributions to space exploration.