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Early dreams shaped by a chance meeting
Jeremy Hansen's path to the Artemis II mission began long before his selection as the first Canadian to orbit the Moon. As a first-year cadet at Canada's Royal Military College in 1995, Hansen crossed paths with a figure who would become a lifelong mentor: astronaut Chris Hadfield.
At the time, Hadfield had yet to command the International Space Station, but his career already embodied Hansen's aspirations-fighter pilot, explorer, and national hero. Their brief exchange left Hansen with more than an autograph; he secured Hadfield's email address, a small step that would anchor his future.
Following a hero's footsteps
Hansen's fascination with space started even earlier. Growing up on a farm near London, Ontario, he stumbled upon an encyclopedia page featuring Neil Armstrong's 1969 Moon landing. The image seared into his memory, transforming his childhood treehouse into a makeshift rocket ship.
By his teens, he joined the air cadets, later studying space science and physics at university. His career mirrored Hadfield's trajectory: first as a CF-18 fighter pilot at Cold Lake, Alberta, then as a NORAD officer before joining the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 2009.
"Jeremy has been getting ready for this flight since he was five years old,"
Chris Hadfield, in a March podcast with singer Emm Gryner
A mission of firsts and risks
Fourteen years after joining the CSA, Hansen was named to Artemis II-the first crewed lunar mission in over half a century. Over 10 days, he and three NASA astronauts-commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch-will venture farther from Earth than any human before.
Hansen, the sole non-American on the crew, acknowledges the risks. "Doing something unprecedented means failure is likely," he told the CSA. "But space exploration demands bold goals. We won't let setbacks halt progress."
Symbols of home and heritage
For the mission, Hansen carries personal mementos: four Moon-shaped pendants, each with a birthstone representing his wife and three teenage children. His spacesuit features a custom patch designed by Anishinaabe artist Henry Guimond, incorporating Indigenous teachings on love, respect, courage, and humility.
"The patch honors Canada's Indigenous peoples and their wisdom," Hansen said, emphasizing the mission's broader message of unity.
A view to inspire humanity
In a recent BBC interview, Hansen shared his anticipation for the mission's most poignant moment: seeing Earth from the Moon's far side. "I hope people pause to reflect on the imagery we share," he said. "We can do better-lifting each other up instead of tearing down."
As Artemis II prepares for launch, Hansen's journey-from a farm boy with a dog-eared encyclopedia to a lunar pioneer-stands as a testament to perseverance and the power of mentorship.
