Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen waited 16 years for his chance to go to space — and says it was worth it.
Hansen said he spent years training after being selected in 2009 alongside David Saint-Jacques. He didn’t expect his first mission would take him around the moon, but changes to NASA’s program led him there.
On April 1, he launched aboard NASA’s Space Launch System with crewmates Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch as part of the Artemis II test flight.
He said the launch was exciting and fun, and he focused on the moment rather than the long wait. Hansen also said he didn’t feel sick in space, though he had some discomfort from fluid shifting in his body. A thigh cuff helped relieve the pressure.
The crew faced small challenges during the mission. Bright light from Earth made it harder to take photos, so they covered a window with a T-shirt. They also had to adjust to the water system after accidentally creating floating water bubbles inside the spacecraft.
Hansen said returning to Earth’s gravity wasn’t too difficult because the mission lasted just over nine days. He added that while the views and the ride were memorable, the most meaningful part was the shared human experience and how people connected with the mission.
