Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian astronaut who served as a mission specialist on NASA's historic Artemis II mission, announced Tuesday that he is retiring from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) after 17 years. The 50-year-old former military officer, who also spent 32 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, will shift to a reservist position within the agency.
In a statement posted on social media, Hansen made clear his departure from active duty is not a farewell to space advocacy. “This is far from a departure,” he wrote. “My commitment to seeing Canada thrive remains absolute.” He described the new reservist role as “a deliberate launchpad designed to leave the door open for creative, ongoing ways to support and enable the vital work happening in Canada with respect to space.”
Hansen's announcement comes months after he and his three American crewmates completed a 10-day journey around the far side of the moon in April. The mission marked the first crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit in over half a century and served as the initial phase of NASA's broader push to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028. NASA has since named the crew for Artemis III, a mission that will focus on orbital docking tests before a landing attempt.
The Artemis II crew was invited to the Oval Office by President Trump after their safe splashdown off the California coast, a visit that underscored the political significance of the mission. Hansen expressed gratitude to the CSA, NASA, and his family, as well as to Canadians who supported the endeavor. “And to all Canadians: thank you for believing in what our country can achieve when we aim high,” he wrote. “The mission continues.”
In a separate statement, the CSA praised Hansen's “historic” contributions to space exploration. “Although his time as an active CSA astronaut is coming to an end, Jeremy Hansen leaves a lasting legacy in Canada's space program,” the agency said. “He will continue to be recognized as an ambassador for Canada's future in space and for the spirit of discovery that drives exploration.”
Hansen's shift to a reservist role allows him to remain involved in Canadian space initiatives, a sector he argues is critical for the nation's economic and technological future. “Our future depends on a fierce continuation of Canadian innovation and exploration in space,” he said. “The technological breakthroughs and economic benefits born from this sector are vital for our country and the world, and I am as determined as ever to push that work forward.”
The transition comes at a time of heightened activity in space policy, with the Trump administration pushing for commercial partnerships and a renewed focus on lunar exploration. NASA's recent collaboration with Relativity Space for a Mars weather mission reflects this shift toward private-sector involvement. Hansen's reservist status will let him contribute to such efforts without the full-time demands of an active astronaut.
Hansen's departure from active duty also highlights the broader changes in Canada's space program, which has seen increased investment and international collaboration in recent years. As the CSA looks to the future, Hansen's legacy as a key figure in the Artemis II mission—the first Canadian to fly to the moon—will remain a benchmark for the country's ambitions in space.
