LONGUEUIL, QC, April 1, 2026 /CNW/ – Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly congratulated Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen as the first Canadian to venture to the Moon aboard Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972. He is joined by NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch on this nearly 10-day mission. Today’s historic event marks Canada as only the second country to send an astronaut on a lunar mission. This historic achievement reinforces Canada’s role as a trusted and capable partner in humanity’s return to deep space.
CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons, Canada’s official backup, will serve as Artemis capcom from ground control, assisting the crew throughout the flight. The involvement of two Canadian astronauts in this endeavour underscores a proud national milestone, one that is the result of decades of Canadian expertise in space and innovation, and sets the stage for Canada’s role in the next era of space exploration.
The Artemis II crew launched aboard the Orion spacecraft on the Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 6:35 pm ET. In the coming 24 hours, the crew will verify that all systems are performing normally. Once these operations are completed, Orion’s service module will perform a powerful engine burn to propel the crew on their journey toward the Moon.
Over the course of the mission, the crew will travel more than two million kilometres, testing life-support, navigation, and other systems of Orion. These tests will help determine if the spacecraft is ready to support future long-duration missions to deep space. The crew is also set to venture beyond the far side of the Moon as part of a lunar flyby before returning to Earth. Orion will splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
Quote
“Artemis II is a historic moment for Canada – a mission that showcases our national pride and leadership in space innovation. For decades, Canadian technology and expertise have helped drive international space exploration, and this mission builds on this legacy. As Jeremy takes this historic step, he carries the strength of Canada’s space industry with him, and inspires a new generation of Canadians to reach for the Moon and beyond.”
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Quick facts
- Canada has a seat on Artemis II thanks to decades of contributions and strategic investments, notably in space robotics systems, proving that Canada’s expertise is instrumental to space exploration endeavours.
- In April 2023, Jeremy Hansen was confirmed as a crewmember of the Artemis II mission, becoming the first CSA astronaut to be assigned to a lunar mission.
- In November 2023, CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons was confirmed as Jeremy Hansen’s backup for Artemis II, securing a seat for Canada on this historic mission.
- She has been fully integrated into the training and flight-testing flow alongside the Artemis II crew from the beginning. She has also been playing a key role in defining and validating astronaut training and processes for future lunar missions, and will act as Artemis capcom during the mission.
- Selected as part of the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign in 2009, Jeremy Hansen has done years of training to be ready for a space mission. Since his assignment to the crew of Artemis II, he has taken customized training alongside his NASA crewmates and CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons.
- Artemis II is the first crewed test flight of the multi-mission Artemis campaign, which is set to build the expertise for a lasting return to the Moon and lay an important foundation for deep-space exploration to more distant destinations like Mars. Artemis II will test the Orion spacecraft’s systems, adapted to meet the needs of a crew on board.
- Excluding Artemis II, the CSA has flown nine astronauts on 17 space missions.
Related products
Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the launch of the Artemis II mission
Associated links
Artemis II: Destination Moon
CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s biography
Information kit – Artemis II mission
Website: www.asc-csa.gc.ca
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SOURCE Canadian Space Agency
