The parents of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen are preparing for an emotional moment as their only child gets ready to become the first Canadian to fly around the moon on the historic Artemis II mission potentially launching soon. Nancy and Gary Hansen from Ingersoll Ontario sat down to discuss the upcoming journey that will see their son and three United States astronauts travel deeper into space than any human in history during the 10 day voyage testing critical systems while flying around the far side of the moon. Nancy Hansen admitted she is both excited and nervous explaining that when your child is on that launch it is different especially since this is a brand new spacecraft being tested for the first time.
The mission carries significant risk as astronauts will board a capsule atop a new rocket system that has never carried humans with recent discussions about the Orion capsule’s heat shield raising safety concerns after it charred unexpectedly during a test flight. However the Hansens say their son has assured them that NASA has adjusted the capsule’s reentry trajectory with Gary Hansen emphasizing that you cannot live in fear or you do not live while they do everything they can to reduce risk. Nancy Hansen admitted that hugging her son goodbye brought a fleeting heavy thought that it could be their last embrace but she believes the mission will go well and that Jeremy’s pursuit of his dream is worth the risks.
The parents who worked in farming and at an auto plant say Jeremy’s fascination with flight began at age five when he looked up the word airplane in an encyclopedia and stumbled upon a picture of Neil Armstrong on the moon setting his path. They recalled how he declared he was going to be an astronaut and went out that night to look up at the moon thinking he could go there proving that childhood dreams can become reality through dedication.
