Page 68 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter 2024/2025

P A S S I O N P U R S U I T S
Out of This World
JEREMY HANSEN’S LUNAR ADVENTURE
AND LOVE FOR EARTH BY VANESSA CHIASSON
MUST SEE
Hansen grew up in Ingersoll, Ontario. The
region’s beauty has left a lasting impression.
He says, “I really appreciate the beauty of the
area with respect to the farmland, the trees,
the wooded areas.” He encourages everyone
to spend time in nature and notes, “Just to go
anywhere in nature is always an enriching
experience.”
THE BACKSTORY
Hansen’s travel plans may be out of this world, but his passions
were sparked in a down-to-earth environment. He attended air
cadet camp in Trenton, Ontario. He recalls, “That was a big step for
me to be away from home for two weeks at the ages of 12 and 13.” A
few years later, Hansen earned a scholarship to get his pilot’s
licence as an air cadet in Cornwall, Ontario, and more travel
followed. He vividly remembers the grown-up moment he got his
travel instructions in the mail. “I felt like a special agent, like James
Bond, to just go on my own, get on a train, and travel somewhere.”
THE TAKEAWAY
If you fret over lost luggage, you’re not alone. Hansen’s number one
packing rule is to travel with carry-on luggage. He’s not going to
risk losing his bags! This frequent traveller says, “It’s just too much
of a liability for things you need when you get there... So I pack
carry-on.” However, his packing list is enviably short. “As an
astronaut, you know, I have a pretty standard uniform so it makes
it easy...”
DS
THE SCENE
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen is about to go where no Canadian has gone
before. He will become the first Canadian astronaut to fly around the
moon on the Artemis II mission. Hansen, an avid traveller on Planet
Earth, has traversed the globe accomplishing earthly missions, exploring
caves, working underwater, and even acting as the Calgary Stampede
parade marshal. Despite his extraordinary accomplishments, Hansen is
like any other frequent flyer. He has strong feelings about luggage,
appreciates the value of a travel uniform, and loves getting outdoors.
THE HITS
Hansen may be an astronaut, but he finds solace in the great outdoors
and living a life of gratitude here on Earth. In 2023, he did a vision quest,
spending the better part of four days alone outdoors. For this nature
lover, time spent in the solitude of nature has a restorative, recharging
effect. He encourages others to connect with the world in their own way.
“You have to accept where you are and be grateful for where you are and
what you have.”
TRAVEL PLANNER
Keen to follow Hansen as he prepares for the launch, currently
scheduled for September 2025? The Artemis II blog is chock
full of information and updates. blogs.nasa.gov/artemis
68
DREAMSCAPES WINTER 2024/2025
PHOTOS: NASA, ALBERTO BERTOLIN | NASA