Astronaut who flew on NASA's Artemis II moon mission takes step down
One of the astronauts who flew on the landmark Artemis II moon mission that captivated the world in April is stepping down.
Jeremy Hansen, who became the first Canadian to fly on a crewed moon mission, made the career announcement three months after he and three Americans etched their names in spaceflight history . Traveling more than a quarter-million miles away from Earth, the Artemis II crew swung around the moon without landing on a 10-day mission that could set the stage for humans to return to the surface as early as 2028.
While Hansen's three crewmates had all ventured to space before, the mission was the Canadian's first spaceflight in his 17-year astronaut career. And depending on what's next for him in his professional life, it could also be his last.
Here's everything to know about Hansen's announcement.
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Astronaut Jeremy Hansen makes retirement announcement
Hansen, 50, said in a Monday, July 6, post on Facebook that he would step back from a full-time astronaut role in September. Hansen said he will also transition to being a reservist member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
But the move, Hansen said, is "far from a departure." Instead, he said the move is meant "to leave the door open for creative, ongoing ways to support and enable the vital work happening in Canada with respect to space."
In a statement , the Canadian Space Agency said that Hansen will "pursue new professional opportunities."
Who is Jeremy Hansen?
With a background as a fighter pilot, Hansen was selected in 2009 for astronaut training with the Canadian Space Agency. Among his credentials, Hansen in 2017 became the only Canadian to lead a new group of NASA astronaut recruits.
A husband with three children, Hansen was raised on a farm in Ontario.
"To all Canadians: thank you for believing in what our country can achieve when we aim high," Hansen concluded in his statement.
Canadian flew on historic Artemis II moon mission
In April, Hansen was part of a trailblazing moon mission known as Artemis II. Significantly, the mission marked the first – and, potentially, only – time Hansen went to space.
Hansen was the sole Canadian on the four-person crew, which also included NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch.
Together, the astronauts carved their names in history – traveling on the first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years while venturing farther from Earth than any humans ever had. They also witnessed sights of the far side of the moon during an April 6 lunar flyby never before seen in person.
Three of the astronauts, including Hansen, also made individual history. Hansen became the first Canadian selected for a moon mission, while Koch became the first woman and Glover the first Black man.
See photos of Jeremy Hansen during Artemis II
What is CSA, NASA saying?
Both the Canadian Space Agency and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman released statements congratulating Hansen and lauding his astronaut career.
"When he was selected for the incredible Artemis II crew and their mission to journey around the Moon, he executed with humility, precision, and professionalism," Isaacman said in a statement , shared on social media site X. "Thank you, Jeremy, for your extraordinary service and partnership with NASA. Wishing you and your family all the best in this next chapter."
In its statement shared on social media, the Canadian Space Agency said Hansen "helped shape a new chapter in Canadian space exploration."
"We thank him for inspiring Canadians and strengthening Canada's place in the future of space," the statement continued. "His impact on Canada's space program and on everyone he inspired along the way will be felt for many years to come."
Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astronaut who flew on NASA's Artemis II moon mission takes step down
