NASA Artemis II rocket launch: Canada’s Jeremy Hansen makes history in first lunar mission in decades

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen has made history after launching aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission, becoming the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.

The rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday. Moments before launch, Hansen said: “We’re going for all humanity.”

The 10-day mission marks the first time humans will travel to the moon in more than 50 years. The crew will conduct a lunar fly-around and observe the far side of the moon.

Hansen, 50, from London, Ontario, is serving as mission specialist. He is joined by NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch.

The launch had been delayed from February due to technical issues, but proceeded successfully after final checks.

Ahead of liftoff, Hansen shared an emotional farewell with his family.

“I love you,” he said, according to The Canadian Press, before heading to the spacecraft.

His wife, Catherine Hansen, said the family was trying to stay present in the moment: “There will be excitement, there will be exhilaration, there will be terror and fear,” she told The Canadian Press.