Mark Carney praised Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen following the successful Artemis II flyby, calling the mission “hugely inspiring” and a proud milestone for Canada.
During a live call with the crew, Carney highlighted the significance of hearing French spoken from space, describing it as a powerful symbol of Canada’s identity and contribution to global space exploration.
Hansen, alongside his crewmates, completed a six-hour lunar flyby that set a new distance record beyond the moon — a key step toward future missions targeting the lunar south pole.
Reflecting on the journey, Hansen described the experience as both challenging and deeply meaningful, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration and innovation driven by space exploration.
The crew is now returning to Earth, with a splashdown expected off the coast of California, marking the end of a mission that has captured national pride and global attention.