As a historic mission nears, astronaut Jeremy Hansen explains why Canada is moonward bound

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen is about to become the first Canadian to venture into deep space as he and his U.S. crewmates prepare for the launch of Artemis II.

The test flight, which could launch as early as Feb. 6, 2026, will mark the first time a crew has flown in NASA’s Orion capsule, designed to ferry astronauts to the moon and back. During their 10-day mission, Col. Hansen and his three U.S. crewmates are expected to circle around the moon’s far side and potentially see regions of the lunar surface that have not yet been glimpsed by human eyes. The mission’s broader goal is to pave the way for astronauts to return to the lunar surface and, ultimately, set the stage for future expeditions to Mars.