Jeremy Hansen describes his return to Earth after the Artemis II mission

Jeremy Hansen, a member of the four-person Artemis II crew, returned to Earth after a 10-day lunar fly-around and described views of Earth and the moon as "pretty extraordinary." The mission marked the first human trip beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years and represented a milestone for Canada’s role in the Artemis partnership.

Jeremy Hansen returned to Earth this month after flying beyond low Earth orbit as part of NASA's Artemis II mission. He and three crewmates completed a 10-day lunar fly-around and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Hansen described seeing the sweep of the ocean, the red of Australia and the thin edge of Earth's atmosphere while looking out from the Orion capsule. The mission drew attention as the first human trip beyond low Earth orbit in over five decades and highlighted Canada's participation in the Artemis program. Key details: - The four-person crew included commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Jeremy Hansen and Christina Koch. - The crew completed a 10-day lunar fly-around and returned to Earth with a Pacific Ocean splashdown. - Reported as the first human trip beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years, and the crew traveled farther from Earth's surface than anyone before them. - Hansen described the view of Earth and the moon as a unique human experience and used the word "extraordinary" to convey his impression. - The article notes Hansen is the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit and that Canada’s long-term space investments, including robotic systems like Canadarm, were part of the broader international effort. Summary: The mission fulfilled a longstanding goal for Hansen and was presented as a milestone for Canada and international partners in human spaceflight. It also underscored that the Artemis program is preparing for a more permanent human presence on the moon and longer-term plans toward Mars. Undetermined at this time.