Artemis II moon launch: Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen makes history
Canadians across the country are assembling Wednesday to watch the Artemis II launch, which is set to send humans around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.
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In this photo provided by NASA, a view of the Earth from NASA's Orion spacecraft as it orbits above the planet during the Artemis II test flight, on Thursday, April 2, 2026. (NASA via AP)
The mission is expected to initially stay close to Earth in order to test systems before the astronauts fire the main engine to propel the spacecraft to the moon — marking humanity’s first return in more than 50 years. (NASA)
The mission is expected to initially stay close to Earth in order to test systems before the astronauts fire the main engine to propel the spacecraft to the moon — marking humanity’s first return in more than 50 years. (NASA)
The mission is expected to initially stay close to Earth in order to test systems before the astronauts fire the main engine to propel the spacecraft to the moon — marking humanity’s first return in more than 50 years. (NASA)
The mission is expected to initially stay close to Earth in order to test systems before the astronauts fire the main engine to propel the spacecraft to the moon — marking humanity’s first return in more than 50 years. (NASA
The mission is expected to initially stay close to Earth in order to test systems before the astronauts fire the main engine to propel the spacecraft to the moon — marking humanity’s first return in more than 50 years. (NASA)
The mission is expected to initially stay close to Earth in order to test systems before the astronauts fire the main engine to propel the spacecraft to the moon — marking humanity’s first return in more than 50 years. (NASA)
The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft launches at the Kennedy Space Center, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026.(Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 1, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on April 1, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
In this image from video provided by NASA, the Artemis II moon rocket with the Orion spacecraft launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (NASA via AP)
NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The solid rocket boosters (SRBs) detach after NASA's Artemis II Space Launch System rocket carrying the Orion spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Artemis II crewed lunar mission launches at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
Artemis II pre-launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Artemis II pre-launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Astronauts, from left, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch leave the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-B and a planned liftoff on NASA's Artermis II moon rocket at the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Artemis II pre-launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Artemis II pre-launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Artemis II pre-launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Spectators look on from the A. Max Brewer Bridge as NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifts off Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as seen from Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist Victor Glover, pilot Reid Wiseman, commander Christina Koch walk out before travelling to the launch pad to board the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II crewed lunar mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
Artemis 2 crew members, from left, pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of CSA (Canadian Space Agency) and mission specialist Christina Koch walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Artemis 2 crew members, from left, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and commander Reid Wiseman walk to an astronaut transfer van as they depart the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building ahead of the launch of the Artemis II at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on April 01, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
NASA astronaut Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, blows a kiss to friends and family as the Artemis II mission crew says farewell before travelling to the launch pad to board the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis II crewed lunar mission at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on April 1, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images)
Spectators view NASA's Artemis II moon rocket launch from the A. Max Brewer Bridge, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Spectators leave the A. Max Brewer Bridge after viewing NASA's Artemis II moon rocket launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
People stand on Elgin Street as the Artemis II moon mission lifts off, on a livestream displayed on the Kipnes Lantern of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft is seen at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Photographers set up remote cameras near NASA's Artermis II moon rocket on Launch Pad 39-B just before sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Space enthusiasts set up on the A. Max Brewer Bridge to view the NASA Artemis II launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tiphanie Rhodes, right, of Kalamazoo, Mich., photographs her children while waiting to view the NASA Artemis II launch from underneath the A. Max Brewer Bridge, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Space enthusiasts camp out underneath the A. Max Brewer Bridge while waiting to view the NASA Artemis II launch, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Titusville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Artemis 2 crew members, from left, Mission Spc. Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, Mission Spc. Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover pose for a photo after the crew's arrival at the Kennedy Space Center Friday, March 27, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
This photo provided by NASA shows NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, from left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, in a group photograph as they visit NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)
Artemis 2 crew member Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, of Canada, gestures while speaking to the media after the crew's arrival at the Kennedy Space Center Friday, March 27, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Photographers set up remote cameras to capture the launch of NASA's Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft is seen at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The NASA Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket with the Orion spacecraft is seen at Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASA's Space Launch System rocket with the Orion spacecraft set for the Artemis 2 mission is seen on Launch Complex 39B at sunrise at the Kennedy Space Center, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Orion spacecraft sits on top of the NASA Artemis II rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building before rollout to pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
The NASA Artemis II rocket, with the Orion spacecraft aboard, leaves the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
