********** HOME ********** Welcome to the Moon Mission Recap! Artemis II was NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program and the first time humans traveled beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission launched on April 1, 2026 and after a nine‑day journey, the Orion spacecraft safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10, 2026. The mission sent astronauts around the far side of the Moon before returning to Earth, marking a major milestone in humanity’s return to deep‑space exploration. The primary purpose of Artemis II was to test spacecraft systems with astronauts aboard. The Artemis II crew consisted of four astronauts: commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen (from the Canadian Space Agency!). Hansen became the first Canadian and first non‑American to travel to the Moon, highlighting the international nature of the Artemis program. The Artemis program is named after Artemis, the Greek goddess of the Moon and the twin sister of Apollo. NASA deliberately chose this name to symbolically link the modern Moon missions with the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s. While Apollo represented humanity’s first steps on the lunar surface, Artemis represents a new era of exploration, focused on long‑term presence, international collaboration, and preparation for future missions to Mars. While the program is called Artemis, the spacecraft that carried the crew on Artemis II is named Orion, after a hunter from Greek mythology, continuing NASA’s tradition of naming missions and spacecraft after mythological figures associated with the sky and exploration. For more information, contact nasa@moonmission.gov ********** HISTORY ********** -Early Observations of the Moon -The Space Race -The Apollo Missions -Artemis Program -Hip Hip Hurray For Space Research *** Early Observations of the Moon *** Ancient civilizations observed the Moon to track time, create calendars, and guide agriculture and religious events. The Moon was often seen as a powerful symbol or deity rather than a physical object. Before telescopes, astronomers studied the Moon with the naked eye, carefully recording its phases and movement. The invention of the telescope in the 1600s revealed mountains and craters, showing that the Moon had a complex surface. For many centuries, the Moon was studied only from Earth and remained a scientific mystery. Without the ability to travel there, scientists debated its features and origins rather than viewing it as a destination. *** The Space Race *** During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union competed to demonstrate technological and political superiority. Space exploration became a visible way to show national power, leading to rapid advances in rocketry and science. The Soviet Union achieved several early successes, including launching the first artificial satellite and sending the first human into space. In response, the United States accelerated its own space program to keep pace. *** The Apollo Mission *** The Apollo program was a United States space initiative launched in the 1960s with the goal of landing humans on the Moon and safely returning them to Earth. This goal was achieved on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. Following this historic landing, several Apollo missions conducted scientific experiments, collected lunar rock samples, and deployed instruments to study the Moon’s surface, composition, and environment. These missions greatly expanded scientific understanding of the Moon and its origins. Despite its success, the Apollo program came to an end in 1972, largely due to high costs and shifting political priorities. By that time, the primary goal of reaching the Moon had been accomplished, and public interest had declined. The final mission, Apollo 17, marked the last time humans walked on the Moon, bringing the Apollo era to a close and beginning a long pause in crewed lunar exploration. *** Artemis Program *** The Artemis program is NASA’s modern initiative to return humans to the Moon and establish a long‑term presence there. Unlike Apollo, which focused on short missions and symbolic achievement, Artemis is designed to support sustained exploration, international collaboration, and new technologies. The program began with Artemis I, an uncrewed test flight, followed by Artemis II, which carried astronauts around the Moon to test spacecraft systems in deep space. Future Artemis missions aim to land astronauts near the Moon’s south pole, where valuable resources such as water ice may exist. These missions will support scientific research, help build lunar infrastructure, and prepare for future human missions to Mars. In this way, Artemis represents the next phase of lunar exploration, building on Apollo’s legacy while focusing on long‑term exploration rather than one‑time landings. Countdown to Next Blast Off: <<>> *** Hip Hip Hurray For Space Research *** It is often asked why we invest in space exploration when there are so many more pressing issues on Earth. This interactive NASA experience shows how technologies developed for space missions have been used to change and improve (well, most of the time!) our daily lives: https://homeandcity.nasa.gov/ So, just maybe... the investment was worth it! ********** CANADA'S ROLE ********** Canada Canada has played a significant role in space exploration despite not having its own human‑launch vehicles. One of Canada’s most important contributions is space robotics, beginning with the original Canadarm, which first flew aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle in 1981. The Canadarm allowed astronauts to deploy and repair satellites and became so reliable that it was used on nearly every Space Shuttle mission. Its successors, Canadarm2 and Dextre, are key components of the International Space Station (ISS), helping assemble the station, capture visiting spacecraft, and support astronaut spacewalks. These robotic systems established Canada as a world leader in space robotics. Ontario Jeremy Hansen is a Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency and a colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was born on January 27, 1976, in London, Ontario, and grew up on a farm near Ailsa Craig and attended high school in Ingersoll. Hansen joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at age 12, earned his glider pilot wings at 16, and obtained his private pilot licence at 17, early experiences that shaped his career in aviation and space. Hansen earned a BSc in Space Science and a MSc in Physics from the Royal Military College of Canada. He later became a CF18 fighter pilot, serving in multiple squadrons and supporting NORAD operations. In 2009, Hansen was selected as an astronaut by the Canadian Space Agency and began years of training, including work as a CAPCOM, the communicator between astronauts in space and mission control. In 2026, Hansen made history as a mission specialist on Artemis II, becoming the first Canadian and first non American to travel to the Moon. During the mission, he and his crewmates flew around the far side of the Moon and set a record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. Hansen’s participation represents both a personal milestone and the culmination of decades of Canadian contributions to international space exploration. London Western University, through its Institute for Earth and Space Exploration (Western Space), has become one of Canada’s leading academic contributors to space research. Western researchers collaborate extensively with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA on planetary science, lunar geology, and space instrumentation. Western is also the lead institution in the Canadian Lunar Research Network, which connects researchers across Canada and supports lunar exploration science. ********** SPACE PICS ********** PERSON PLACE THING <<>> ********** REFERENCES ********** <<>>