Canada’s Artemis 2 Mission Inches Closer as Hansen Addresses Curious Students
With roughly 100 days remaining until liftoff, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is fielding questions from a cohort of eager Grade 5 and 6 students about Artemis 2. The session, held at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters in Longueuil, Quebec, offered a rare glimpse into the human side of a mission that would mark Canada’s most ambitious leap toward the Moon in decades.
Facing the Unknown: Hansen’s Perspective on Risks and Rewards
Hansen, 49, sat with the students and spoke candidly about fear and risk. He reminded the audience that spaceflight inherently carries danger, noting that “you can die in space just like you can die here on Earth.” Yet he underscored a pragmatic optimism: the team has “been very smart about our approach” and has built multiple contingencies into Artemis 2’s plan. The astronaut’s message resonated with students who asked about what keeps him going in the face of uncertainty.
Artemis 2: A Historic Step, a Stepping-Stone for Humanity
The mission, expected to launch as early as February 2026, will send Hansen and his NASA crewmates on a roughly 10-day round trip around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, named “Integrity.” This is the first crewed Moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972, and Hansen would become the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit. His fellow crew members include Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, veterans of NASA’s astronaut corps who have trained for more than two years to execute this complex journey.
Canada’s Role on the International Lunar Stage
Hansen emphasized Canada’s contributions—from Canadarm to the evolving Canadarm 3 robotics system—that have helped secure a shared place in Artemis missions. He noted that Canada’s ascent to this level of space involvement reflects a broader national commitment to science, exploration, and innovation. The mission is also a gateway to future endeavors, with Artemis 3 targeting a Moon landing at the South Pole and Artemis 4 aiming to assemble a Gateway lunar outpost that could host more international collaborations.
Training, Trust, and the Human Element
Beyond technical preparation, Hansen highlighted the importance of trust—both in himself and in his colleagues. “What helps me with that is that I have learned to trust myself and to trust others,” he told the students. The briefing also touched on practical challenges, including life support, food provisioning, and the constraints of a spacecraft the size of a camper van. The crew’s ability to manage supplies and maintain readiness will be crucial for the mission’s success and for the prospects of deeper space exploration, including eventual journeys to Mars.
Public Engagement and Canadian Commitment
The event featured a notable guest: Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, marking her first visit to the agency in her new role. Joly framed Artemis 2 as a milestone for national resilience and scientific leadership, underscoring Canada’s willingness to increase strategic capabilities in defense, health, climate resilience, and disaster response. The dialogue between policymakers, scientists, and students underscores a broader national strategy to inspire the next generation of explorers while advancing Canada’s role on the global space stage.
Looking Ahead
As Artemis 2 draws nearer, the mission is positioned as both a proof of concept and a critical step toward longer, more ambitious explorations. Hansen and his team may later contribute to a Moon base ecosystem and, ultimately, support humanity’s journey to Mars. For now, the conversation with curious students on Montreal’s South Shore symbolizes the bridge between classroom curiosity and interplanetary ambition.
