Canadian Astronaut Makes History on Artemis II Lunar Flyby

Prime Minister Carney celebrates first Canadian to orbit the moon as U.S.-Canada relations face tensions

Apr. 9, 2026 at 6:40pm

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric planetary circles, and precise botanical spirals in soft, earthy tones of blue, green, and gold, conveying the structural order and complex forces of space exploration.The historic Artemis II mission, with the first Canadian astronaut to orbit the moon, represents a milestone in the enduring scientific partnership between the United States and Canada.San Diego Today

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to astronauts on the Artemis II mission on Wednesday, celebrating the first Canadian to fly around the moon. Jeremy Hansen, a 50-year-old Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, is the first non-U.S. citizen to fly on a lunar mission, joining three U.S. astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission, a key step in a program aiming to return astronauts to the moon's surface by 2028.

Why it matters

The historic Artemis II mission marks a milestone in U.S.-Canada space cooperation, coming at a time of strained trade relations between the two countries under the Trump administration. The lunar flyby offers a moment of positive attention for the U.S. amid heightened international tensions.

The details

The 10-day Artemis II mission is due to end with the space capsule's splashdown near San Diego on Friday. During the mission, Prime Minister Carney spoke with astronaut Jeremy Hansen, celebrating his role as the first Canadian to fly around the moon. Hansen, who was selected for Canada's astronaut corps in 2009, promised to bring Carney a Canadian flag he brought on board. He also spoke of the value of risk-taking in space and on Earth, saying 'As a country, we have to be willing to have some failures' but that Canada will 'push through them'.

  • The Artemis II mission is scheduled to end with a splashdown near San Diego on Friday, April 12, 2026.
  • Prime Minister Carney spoke with the Artemis II astronauts, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on Wednesday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Mark Carney

The Prime Minister of Canada, who spoke with the Artemis II astronauts to celebrate the first Canadian to fly around the moon.

Jeremy Hansen

A 50-year-old Royal Canadian Air Force colonel and the first non-U.S. citizen to fly on a lunar mission, joining the Artemis II crew.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that is leading the Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon's surface by 2028.

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What they’re saying

“Canadians couldn't be more proud of you personally, both this mission and our collaboration with the United States.”

— Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada

“As a country, we have to be willing to have some failures. And we fail in this space program, but we just assure ourselves we're not going to stay or rest in those failures. We're going to push through them.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to end with a splashdown near San Diego on Friday, April 12, 2026, marking the successful completion of the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo program.

The takeaway

The historic Artemis II mission, with the first Canadian astronaut to orbit the moon, represents a significant milestone in the U.S.-Canada space partnership. Despite recent tensions in the countries' trade relations, this collaborative achievement highlights the enduring scientific and exploratory ties between the two nations.