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Jeremy Hansen, the Canadian mission specialist on NASA’s historic Artemis II mission, announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on Tuesday.
“This is far from a departure,” he wrote in a statement shared on social media. “My commitment to seeing Canada thrive remains absolute.”
The 50-year-old astronaut served 17 years in CSA and 32 years in the Canadian military. Hansen will now transition into a reservist role in the CSA, he announced Tuesday.
“This unique position is 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, and I’m excited for the new challenges it will bring,” he said.
“Our future depends on a fierce continuation of Canadian innovation and exploration in space,” he continued. “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 Canadian astronaut and three American astronauts completed a 10-day journey around the far side of the moon and back in April — a historic endeavor that captured national attention.
This space expedition was the first crewed journey beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years, and it was the initial phase in NASA’s efforts to land astronauts on the moon by 2028.
Hansen and his fellow crew members were invited by President Trump to the Oval Office following their safe splashdown off the coast of California.
The Canadian astronaut ended his statement by thanking the CSA, NASA and his family for their support throughout his career.
“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 statement, the CSA commended Hansen’s years of service to the agency, citing his “historic” contributions to the advancement of space explorations.
“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.”
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