Artemis II Astronaut Jeremy Hansen to Retire From Space Agency

WHO:

CNN - Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Prime Minister Mark Carney, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch.

Phys.org - Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

WHAT:

CNN - Jeremy Hansen announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency, effective in September.

CNN - Hansen will transition to serve as a reservist member of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

CNN - Hansen described his decision as allowing him to take a “significant next step” in his career.

CNN - Hansen was the only international astronaut on the Artemis II mission, which involved a historic journey around the moon.

CNN - The Artemis II mission set a record for the farthest into space humans have traveled at 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers).

CNN - NASA plans to follow up Artemis II with Artemis III, which will test the Orion capsule's docking with a lunar lander, and Artemis IV, expected to launch as soon as 2028.

WHERE:

CNN - The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

WHEN:

CNN - Hansen's retirement from the Canadian Space Agency is set for September.

CNN - Artemis III is planned for a future flight to low-Earth orbit, with Artemis IV expected to launch as soon as 2028.

WHY:

CNN - Hansen's retirement is to pursue new professional opportunities while leaving the door open for ongoing support of Canada's space initiatives.

HOW:

CNN - Hansen made the announcement via a social media post.

(UPDATED July 6, 2026 23:26 UTC)

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen has announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency, effective in September, to pursue new professional opportunities while still supporting Canada's space initiatives. Hansen, who was the only international astronaut on the historic Artemis II mission that set a record for the farthest humans have traveled into space at 252,756 miles, will transition to serve as a reservist member of the Royal Canadian Air Force. NASA plans to follow up Artemis II with Artemis III, which will test the Orion capsule's docking with a lunar lander, and Artemis IV is expected to launch as soon as 2028.