Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the first non-American to travel into deep space, recently expressed his gratitude to King Charles III in a video message recorded during his return to Earth. The king had sent a personal letter wishing Hansen good luck and commending his courage before the launch of NASA's Artemis II mission.
Historic Mission
Hansen, born in London, Ontario, and raised in Ailsa Craig and Ingersoll, has been back on Earth for nearly a month after completing the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The Artemis II mission saw Hansen and his three crewmates travel approximately 406,000 kilometers from Earth, farther than any humans have ever ventured.
Royal Letter
In a video shared on social media, Hansen addressed King Charles directly, stating, "I shared your letter with the crew and it resonated with all of us deeply. Specifically, your thoughts around scientific pursuit, stewardship and reverence for all that is sacred." The letter, published on the Royal Family's website on March 31, commended Hansen for his courage, discipline, and vision.
King Charles wrote, "As the first Canadian to venture to the moon, you carry not only the hopes of your fellow Canadians and the Commonwealth, but also the aspirations of humanity itself. In this historic moment, you stand as a bridge between nations and generations."
Scientific Impact
According to NASA, data collected during the flyby, including photographs and mission telemetry, will inform future missions such as the development of a moon base and eventual journeys to Mars. The king acknowledged Canada's role, noting that the mission reflects "decades of dedicated leadership and sustained investment in space innovation, as well as the strength of international partnerships."
Hansen concluded his video by emphasizing the meaningfulness of the king's words for shaping the future of space exploration and humanity's pursuit of excellence.
