NASA releases possible launch dates for Artemis II quest with Canada’s Jeremy Hansen

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen speaks about his upcoming Artemis II mission during an event at the Canadian Space Agency, in Longueuil, Que., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

NASA has announced possible launch dates for the Artemis II mission, which will include Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The agency has identified several roughly two-hour launch windows beginning Feb. 6 until the end of April.

The first crewed mission of the Artemis program is also the first journey to the moon by astronauts since 1972 — and Hansen’s first mission in space.

Hansen, 49, of London, Ont., would become the first non-American to travel beyond the low Earth orbit.

The Orion spacecraft, named “Integrity” by the four-person crew, will travel around the moon before returning to Earth over a roughly 10-day stretch.

The mission is the first crewed flight for Orion and officials warn that delays are possible.

The Artemis I mission, which did not have a crew, was delayed three times because of technical issues and poor weather before it launched in November 2022 for a 25-day mission.

NASA announced last week the rollout of the spacecraft to the launch pad could begin as early as this weekend.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 12, 2026.