Jeremy Hansen’s groundbreaking space voyage aboard the Artemis II mission is the focus of an upcoming book scheduled for release this autumn. Titled “Earthrise: A Canadian Astronaut’s Journey into Deep Space,” the book will narrate Hansen’s experiences as the first Canadian to venture into deep space. The author, John Larsen, a former senior military public affairs officer, penned the book.
The Artemis II mission marked a significant milestone as the crew set a new record for the farthest distance traveled from Earth by humans. Canadians closely followed and cheered for the crew during this historic mission, the first crewed lunar expedition in over five decades.
Alongside NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, Hansen embarked on the 10-day mission aboard Artemis II. The mission involved testing various systems, including communication through NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), and conducting experiments on human body reactions in space.
Despite not landing on the moon, Hansen made history as the first Canadian and non-American to journey to the moon. During the mission, the crew witnessed lunar terrains never seen by human eyes before.
Hansen expressed his thoughts on the mission, stating, “The Artemis II mission reflects the best of what humanity can achieve: the next era of space exploration and innovation.” He recently retired from the Canadian Space Agency after serving 17 years as an astronaut and 32 years in the military.
Larsen, a writer and university instructor based in Calgary, conducted in-depth interviews with Hansen for the book. “Earthrise” offers readers an insider’s view of Hansen’s training, his astronaut aspirations, and the lunar mission that propelled him into deep space.
“This journey surpasses even the wildest adventures I imagined when I turned my childhood treehouse into a spaceship,” Hansen remarked. Larsen described the book as a tale of personal triumph, national pride, and the pursuit of individual dreams.
“Earthrise: A Canadian Astronaut’s Journey into Deep Space” is set for publication on October 27, 2026, by HarperCollinsCanada, marking Larsen’s second book.