Following the completion of the Artemis II mission, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen is receiving widespread acclaim. The mission, which concluded recently, has prompted analysis of the data collected regarding the effects of deep space travel on the human body. Former Canadian astronauts Roberta Bondar and Eli Glasner discussed the mission’s importance and its future implications during a recent broadcast.

Mission Legacy and Hansen’s Role

Bondar stated that for Canadians, Hansen represents “a person and not viewed as a man or a woman or any particular gender, but rather as a soul, as someone who represents the best that we have of a generation and a best that we have of an explorer of this type.” She emphasized that Hansen’s achievement demonstrates that a Canadian background does not preclude achieving expertise in space exploration, and that training can occur internationally while still representing Canada. Bondar noted that Hansen and the crew will “always be the first ones that went the farthest.”

Bondar further stated that Hansen “wants and he said that we don't want this record to stand very low. We want other people to come in and do all these things.” She expressed confidence that Hansen will continue to contribute to Canada’s space program, stating, “whatever he does he will carry the torch for Canada always and that Canadians will be proud of it.” She described herself as “gushing with delight at how well it went.”

Human Body in Deep Space

Eli Glasner explained that while hundreds of astronauts have previously traveled to space, the effects of “deep space” differ significantly from those experienced on the International Space Station. Artemis II is specifically investigating these differences, focusing on the impact of radiation, lack of gravity, and the effects on brain function. Glasner stated, “After hundreds and hundreds of astronauts and all those missions you'd think we'd know but there's the effects of the kind of space the International Space Station orbits and then there's deep space and that's a big part of what Artemis II is investigating.”

Glasner highlighted the importance of understanding these effects on astronauts, noting the research into “the effect on astronauts, the radiation, the lack of gravity, the way their brains function.”