Canada is celebrating the successful return of the Artemis II crew after a nearly 10-day mission that marked a historic milestone in human space exploration.
The Canadian Space Agency said astronaut Jeremy Hansen, alongside Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, safely returned to Earth on April 10, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 8:07 p.m. ET.
Hansen became the first Canadian to take part in a lunar mission, travelling farther into space than any human before during the flight aboard the Orion spacecraft.
“Artemis II has been an amazing, profound, and beautiful experience, but also very humbling,” Hansen said in a statement. “It has been an honour representing Canada on this mission. I am forever grateful for the hard work of so many Canadians that made this historic mission a reality.”
While Hansen represented Canada in space, CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons supported the mission from the ground as capsule communicator, guiding the crew throughout their journey.
The agency said the participation of two Canadian astronauts highlights the country’s long-standing contributions to space exploration and reflects decades of investment in space technology, particularly in robotics.
“With Artemis II complete, we leave this mission with new knowledge, renewed confidence, and a shared belief that Canada belongs at the forefront of human space exploration,” said Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency. “Canadians can take great pride in CSA astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen, who travelled further than humanity has ever been, and CSA astronaut Jenni Gibbons, who ably guided the crew with communications from the ground mission control. Their leadership, dedication, and courage inspired a nation and represented the very best of who we are.”
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly called the mission a historic milestone for Canada.
“Artemis II marks a historic milestone for Canada. Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian to take part in a lunar mission, and his achievement will inspire generations,” Joly said. “This moment reflects decades of Canadian vision, ingenuity, and strategic investment in our space sector. As Jeremy makes history, he carries with him the talent and ambition of Canadians everywhere, opening the door to new opportunities for our economy and for the next generation of explorers.”
The mission, part of the Artemis program, saw the crew travel more than 1.1 million kilometres, circle the Earth twice, complete a lunar flyby and observe parts of the Moon never before seen by humans. The spacecraft also re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at 35 times the speed of sound before its ocean landing.
As the first crewed flight in the Artemis campaign, Artemis II tested critical systems aboard the Orion spacecraft and is expected to pave the way for future missions aimed at landing humans on the Moon and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
The CSA said Canadians followed the mission through live space-to-Earth communications, daily updates and online content, helping connect people across the country to the historic journey.
With the completion of Artemis II, Canada has now flown 10 astronauts on 18 space missions, underscoring its ongoing role in international space exploration.
