Canadian Space Agency astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen is retiring from active CSA astronaut duties, just three months after becoming the first Canadian to travel around the Moon.
Credit: NASA/Glenn Benson
Per a Canadian Space Agency news release, Hansen will begin pursuing new professional opportunities in September 2026, while continuing to serve as a Reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
His retirement follows the Artemis II mission, which ran from April 1 to 10, 2026. Hansen travelled around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft Integrity with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch. The crew covered more than 1,100,000 kilometres in nearly 10 days, travelling farther than any humans in history and surpassing the record held by Apollo 13.
Hansen’s path to space began in London, Ontario, where he joined 614 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron at age 12. He earned his glider wings at 16, his private pilot licence at 17, later became a CF-18 fighter pilot and was selected by the CSA in 2009.
In the release, Hansen thanked those who shaped his career.
“My deepest gratitude to the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Space Agency, and the people of Canada for the opportunity to serve the past 32 years,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney also paid tribute, saying Hansen gave Canada an extraordinary moment in space exploration.
“On behalf of all Canadians, I extend my gratitude to Canadian Space Agency astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen for his extraordinary service to Canada and his remarkable contributions to space exploration,” Carney said.
Hansen leaves active service with a rare place in Canadian history, not just as an astronaut, but as the first Canadian and first non-American to take part in a lunar mission.