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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Field Notes • Astronaut

Jeremy Hansen (astronaut)

Jeremy Hansen is a Canadian astronaut and Royal Canadian Air Force colonel who served as a mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II mission.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Jeremy Hansen is a Canadian astronaut and Royal Canadian Air Force colonel who served as a mission specialist on NASA’s Artemis II mission. In 2026, he became the first Canadian and first non-American to travel to the vicinity of the Moon.

Who is Jeremy Hansen?

Jeremy Hansen was born in London, Ontario, in 1976. He is a Royal Canadian Air Force colonel and was selected by the Canadian Space Agency in 2009. He later served as a mission specialist on Artemis II, making him the first Canadian to travel to the Moon's vicinity.

What was the Artemis II mission?

Artemis II was the first crewed test flight of NASA's Orion spacecraft. Hansen launched on April 1, 2026, and returned on April 10, 2026, after a lunar flyby. The crew set a record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, surpassing Apollo 13.

Why does this matter for Canada?

Hansen became the first Canadian and first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit. His mission represents a major milestone for the Canadian Space Agency and Canada's role in human space exploration.

In short

  • First Canadian to travel to the Moon's vicinity
  • First non-American beyond low Earth orbit
  • Set record for farthest human distance from Earth
  • Selected as CSA astronaut in 2009
Canadian angle

Hansen is a major figure in Canadian space history because he became the first Canadian to travel to the vicinity of the Moon and represented Canada on the Artemis II lunar mission.

Quick questions

Who is Jeremy Hansen?
Jeremy Hansen is a Canadian astronaut and Royal Canadian Air Force colonel who flew on NASA’s Artemis II mission.
What was Jeremy Hansen’s first spaceflight?
His first spaceflight was Artemis II in 2026.
What did Jeremy Hansen achieve on Artemis II?
He became the first Canadian and first non-American to travel to the vicinity of the Moon.

Sources

  1. Canadian Space Agency — https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/canadian/active/bio-jeremy-hansen.asp
    Supports: Official biography; Artemis II role; first Canadian to travel to the Moon’s vicinity.
  2. Government of Canada / Canadian Space Agency — https://www.canada.ca/en/space-agency/news/2026/07/canada-recognizes-the-career-and-achievements-of-canadian-space-agency-astronaut-jeremy-hansen.html
    Supports: Selection in 2009; Artemis II assignment; lunar flight details; first Canadian and first non-American on a lunar mission.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremy-Hansen
    Supports: Birth date and place; Artemis II mission; first spaceflight; record distance traveled from Earth.