NASA is gearing up to launch humans, including a Canadian astronaut, to the moon after more than 50 years, marking a significant milestone. The upcoming Artemis II mission, scheduled to take off next week, will see four astronauts, including Canadian Jeremy Hanson, embark on a 10-day journey around the moon. While the spacecraft will not land on the lunar surface, it will carry out essential surveillance, testing, and experiments in preparation for the subsequent Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the moon’s surface in the near future.
The mission has garnered attention from Canadian singer-songwriter Emm Gryner, who has released a new song titled “Touch the Sky” to celebrate this historic occasion. Filmmaker Laura-Lynn Petrick, a Thunder Bay native, directed, filmed, and edited the music video for Gryner’s song, expressing her excitement akin to a “Stanley Kubrick moment.”
The music video was shot in various locations, including Thunder Bay at Belluz Farms, featuring local actor Leo James Durocher portraying a young version of Hanson, and in Sarnia, with Gryner performing at a piano. Gryner shared that the song idea originated from discussions with Catherine Hansen, Jeremy’s wife, and was brought to life with the collaboration of a talented team of individuals.
Petrick and Gryner, who had been planning to work together for some time, seized the opportunity to create visuals that captured the essence of the mission. The video also incorporates footage from NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and highlights from Hansen’s training, adding depth and authenticity to the project.
Gryner expressed her satisfaction with the final video, emphasizing that it was a tribute to the hard work and dedication of Hansen. She mentioned that all proceeds from the song would be donated to the Bluewater Health Foundation in Sarnia, underlining the charitable aspect of the endeavor.