Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, known for his recent journey around the moon in April, is stepping down from his role at the Canadian Space Agency. The announcement of his retirement was made public by the agency this afternoon.
In a statement released today, the Canadian government praised Hansen’s significant contributions to the country’s space program. Hansen, a Colonel in the Canadian Space Agency, revealed his plans to explore new career opportunities starting in September 2026 while also maintaining a role as a reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Hansen, together with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, completed a mission around the moon as part of Artemis II in April. Hansen personally shared the news of his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency on social media.
Reflecting on his time with the agency, Hansen expressed his gratitude and highlighted his excitement for future endeavors. He joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009 alongside David Saint-Jacques and completed astronaut candidate training in 2011. Hansen has been actively involved in NASA mission control and underwent intensive training in preparation for the Artemis II mission.
Melanie Joly, the minister of industry and minister responsible for economic development for Quebec regions, commended Hansen’s achievements, emphasizing his historic participation in a lunar mission and his inspirational impact on Canadian youth.
Following Hansen’s departure in September, the Canadian Space Agency will have three active astronauts: David Saint-Jacques, Joshua Kutryk, and Jenni Gibbons. Gibbons contributed to mission control during the Artemis II mission and remains an integral part of NASA operations. Kutryk is slated to travel to the International Space Station in September as part of Crew-13.
In his farewell message on social media, Hansen expressed gratitude to the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Space Agency, NASA, international partners, and his family, thanking all Canadians for their support in pushing the boundaries of what the country can achieve in space exploration.