Title: Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen Prepares for Moon Mission

LONGUEUIL — Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is gearing up for his upcoming moon mission, a journey he has been preparing for over the past two-and-a-half years. "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 10-day mission, part of the Artemis II program, is scheduled to launch in early 2026, with the first launch window opening in February.

At 49 years old, Hansen, who hails from London, Ontario, will serve as a mission specialist alongside veteran NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, who will command the mission, pilot Victor Glover, and fellow mission specialist Christina Koch. This mission marks the first time astronauts will travel to the moon since the last Apollo mission in 1972 and is the inaugural crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft. The crew has named their capsule "Integrity," which will approach the moon, orbit it, and then return to Earth.

The mission is described as a "condensed" operation, with the crew expected to spend about 10 days in space, significantly shorter than the typical six-month missions aboard the International Space Station. Wiseman noted, "When you're going to the space station, you're going up there for six months of hardcore science. But the Artemis II mission includes a lot of unknowns."

Mathieu Caron, director of astronauts at the Canadian Space Agency, emphasized the mission's intensity, stating it is "very, very condensed" with a detailed work plan for each crew member throughout the 10 days. The astronauts will live in the Orion capsule, which has a habitable volume of 330 cubic feet, roughly equivalent to the space of two minivans.

If successful, Hansen will become the first non-American to travel beyond low-Earth orbit. Glover will be the first person of color to enter low-Earth orbit, and Koch will be the first woman to do so. This mission also marks Hansen's first spaceflight since joining the astronaut corps in 2009. Jenni Gibbons, another Canadian astronaut, has been appointed as Hansen's backup and will serve as a CAPCOM, acting as a liaison between mission control and the crew.

Food for the mission has been meticulously planned to meet the astronauts' nutritional needs while adhering to the space and weight limitations of the Orion capsule. The crew will consume rehydratable meals and thermostabilized food, avoiding canned items due to their weight. Five Canadian products will be included in their menu: pure maple syrup, a maple cookie, smoked salmon bites, shrimp curry and rice, and a super-seed cereal.

Exercise will also be a crucial part of the mission. The crew will have access to cardiovascular and resistance training equipment designed for the Orion spacecraft. Wiseman humorously remarked that the capsule might feel more cramped when Hansen, who is six feet two inches tall, begins his workouts. "Yeah, Canada did get more than its fair share of the volume on this mission by assigning me to this, and I've heard it acknowledged many times, so I'm getting a little bit conscious about my size," Hansen joked.

Caron noted that excitement is building within the Canadian Space Agency as the mission approaches. Hansen plans to carry small pendants, half moons with family birthstones inscribed with "moon and back," as a personal touch from home. Following Artemis II, the Artemis III mission aims to land astronauts on the moon for the first time in over 50 years, although it has been delayed until at least mid-2027. NASA has indicated that this mission will include a woman and a person of color. The Artemis IV mission will focus on assembling the Gateway lunar space station, which will feature a Canadian contribution, the Canadarm 3.