Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen made a historic connection with Earth from deep space on Saturday during the Artemis II mission, marking a significant milestone for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The live question-and-answer session featured Hansen speaking directly from NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which was about three days into its 10-day lunar flyby mission.
CSA president Lisa Campbell hosted the event, which was the first of a series of planned space-to-Earth communications during the mission. Hansen shared his experiences of the journey so far and offered insights into daily life aboard the spacecraft as it ventured beyond low Earth orbit. When asked about the most surprising aspect of the journey, Hansen expressed awe at the experience of riding the rocket and the breathtaking views of Earth and the crescent Earth from space.
The April 1 launch marked the first crewed mission to orbit the moon in over 50 years, with a diverse four-person international crew that includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch. Hansen mentioned that one of the highlights the team is looking forward to is witnessing a solar eclipse behind the moon during their journey.
Hansen’s involvement as a mission specialist for Artemis II is a significant achievement for Canada, as he becomes the first Canadian astronaut to venture into deep space. When asked to share a message with young Canadians, Hansen emphasized the importance of pursuing one’s passions and sharing them with others to achieve success.
The CSA has announced that more live events featuring Hansen are scheduled for later in the mission, providing Canadians with multiple opportunities to hear directly from space as the spacecraft continues its voyage around the moon and back to Earth.