By Canadian Press

A look at Jeremy Hansen, astronaut destined to be first Canadian beyond the moon

Apr 3, 2023 | 4:01 PM

HOUSTON — A quick look at Col. Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian astronaut named Monday as a member of Artemis II, the first mission to the moon in more than half a century: 

Born: Jan. 27, 1976, in London, Ont. 

Education: Attended Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. Earned bachelor of science in space science and later a master’s degree in physics from Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. 

Career: Joined the Air Cadets at 12, earned his glider pilot wings at 16 and his private pilot’s licence at 17. Served as a CF-18 pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2004 to 2009. Selected to join Canada’s astronaut corps in 2009. Earned rank of colonel. 

Highlights: Served in 2011 at Mission Control in Houston as capsule communication, or capcom, the liaison between the ground and the International Space Station. In 2013, lived underground for six days in Italy as part of the European Space Agency’s CAVES program. Also flies the historic Hawk One F-86 Sabre jet. In 2014, lived and worked on the ocean floor for seven days as an “aquanaut,” simulating deep space exploration underwater as a crew member of NEEMO 19. 

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Family: Married, three children. 

Hobbies: Mountain biking, rock climbing and sailboat cruising and racing.

Quote: “We face global challenges right now. They demand global solutions; they will require global solutions from our young generation. We have to show them how we can do more together, how by bringing the globe together instead of dividing it, we can do more and we can accomplish big things.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2023.

The Canadian Press