Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency speaks to the crowd during the Canada Day noon celebration at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa on July 1, 2023. The Canadian Press
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is nearing the final stages of preparation for his groundbreaking trip to the moon. The 49-year-old from London, Ontario, will serve as a mission specialist on Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years. The ten-day voyage is set for early 2026, with the first launch window opening in February.
“I know that after I launch and come back, I’m going to miss what I’m doing right now,” Hansen said in a recent interview. The astronaut described the intense training and teamwork leading up to the mission as both exciting and fulfilling.
Hansen will join NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), and Christina Koch (mission specialist) on the Orion spacecraft, named Integrity by the crew. The capsule will circle the moon before returning to Earth, marking a major milestone in modern space exploration.
A Short but Demanding Mission
Unlike the six-month rotations on the International Space Station, Artemis II will last only ten days. The mission, however, is packed with technical challenges and new procedures.
“When you’re going to the space station, you’re up there for six months of hardcore science,” Wiseman explained. “Here, there’s going to be a lot of unexpected stress.”
Every hour of the trip will be carefully planned, said Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts, life sciences, and space medicine at the Canadian Space Agency. He described the mission as “very condensed,” with little room for error.
Tight Quarters and Historic Firsts
The four astronauts will live and work inside a capsule roughly the size of two minivans, offering about 330 cubic feet of habitable space.
If successful, Hansen will become the first non-American to travel beyond Earth’s orbit. Glover will make history as the first person of colour on a lunar mission, and Koch will be the first woman to venture that far into space.
Fellow Canadian astronaut Jenni Gibbons, from Calgary, will serve as Hansen’s backup and act as CAPCOM, the direct communicator between the spacecraft and mission control.
Space Menu with Canadian Flavour
The crew’s meals have been specially designed to balance nutrition and storage limits. Natalie Hirsch, from the CSA’s operational space medicine team, said the astronauts will eat rehydratable and thermostabilized meals instead of canned food to save weight.
Canadian treats will join the menu, including maple syrup, smoked salmon bites, maple cookies, shrimp curry, and a super-seed cereal.
Keeping Fit in Orbit
Exercise will be key to maintaining health in microgravity. The astronauts will use a flywheel system for both cardio and resistance workouts. Hansen, who stands six-foot-two, joked about the cramped space: “Canada got more than its fair share of the volume on this mission by assigning me to it.”
A Proud Moment for Canada
Excitement is building at the Canadian Space Agency, located near Montreal. Caron called the mission “a huge source of pride” for Canada. Hansen plans to bring small pendants for his wife and children engraved with the words “to the moon and back.”
After Artemis II, Artemis III aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface in 2027, followed by Artemis IV, which will help build Canadarm 3 for the Gateway lunar station.
