Prime Minister Mark Carney lauded astronaut Jeremy Hansen and the Artemis II crew during a recent call, expressing pride in seeing a Canadian in space and hearing French spoken.
Carney described the mission as "hugely inspiring," emphasizing Canadian pride and the strong collaboration with the United States. The call, a third and final space-to-Earth connection organized by the Canadian Space Agency, was livestreamed from the John H. Chapman Space Centre.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly also addressed Hansen, noting the widespread national pride and hope generated by the mission.
Hansen shared that the mission confirmed his belief in humanity's purpose, describing it as "really reassuring." He highlighted how space exploration drives innovation and focuses efforts on creating technologies that improve life on Earth.
The Artemis II crew, including Hansen, has completed a six-hour lunar flyby, venturing farther into space than any humans previously and setting a new distance record. This mission is a precursor to landing near the moon’s south pole in two years. Canada is noted as the second nation globally to send an astronaut on a lunar mission, a testament to Hansen’s skills.