Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the first Canadian to take part in a mission around the Moon, is leaving the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
In a social media post on Monday, Hansen said he will step away from his full-time role at the CSA in September after 17 years as an astronaut and 32 years of military service.
“I will be transitioning from my full-time role at the CSA,” Hansen wrote, calling his flight on the Artemis II mission an “incredible privilege.”
Hansen will become a reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force, allowing him to take on other work while still supporting the Canadian Armed Forces when needed.
He thanked the Royal Canadian Air Force, the CSA, NASA, and international partners for supporting his career. He also thanked Canadians for believing in the country’s space program.
Prime Minister Mark Carney praised Hansen for his service and said he inspired millions of Canadians through his role in the historic Artemis II mission.
Hansen joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009 and, in April, became the first non-American astronaut to travel beyond low-Earth orbit during the Artemis II mission.
