The parents of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen visited the high school their son attended in Ingersoll, Ont., on Thursday.
The tour will coincide with NASA’s latest Artemis II moon mission update, in which the organization announced it is planning to roll the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft back to the launch pad on March 19, 2026, targeting a tentative launch date of April 1, 2026.
Nancy and Gary Hansen were treated to a trip down memory lane at Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute. They walked the same halls their son did decades before he was selected for a ride aboard the Orion spacecraft.
“It’s actually hard to believe. You think you know Jeremy’s going to be going around the moon. He has had that dream since he was five,” Nancy shared with the students.
Before answering questions, the Hansens were shown display case after display case created in tribute to their son.
From old yearbook photos to replicas of his spacecraft, the school is paying homage to its famous and soon-to-be out-of-this-world graduate.
The Artemis Explorers Club, behind most of the effort, was created after Hansen was selected for the moon mission. Teachers Jennifer Rowe and Phil Raven support the students.
“You can see the excitement and the interest. The kids are really, really into this, and it’s nice to see that they put so much work into it,” Nancy said in an interview with CTV News.
The Hansens rewarded the club with gifts from the Canadian Space Agency.
It is a moment Artemis Explorer Club members, such as Ryan Knox, cherish as they await the next chance for Hansen and Artemis II to launch.
“It’ll definitely be a little bit of a flex to say I went to the same school as him,” he said.
Jeremy’s parents told the students that he shares their belief that education is a key to success.
They told the teens to be dedicated to their goals, whether they’re found in the stars or just around the corner — it was a point that hit home.
“The dedication that they spoke of out there with Jeremy has been a big help with me,” said Knox. “With a work ethic pushing me forward through obstacles, it kind of inspired me to just work harder at what I dream of.”
After all, a dream is where Jeremy’s path to space began at the age of five. It is one Gary says he never gave up on.
“Well, we all say we’re going to be this and that, right, so you don’t think anything of it really,” he said. “But it stuck in his mind [to be an astronaut].”
The admiration the couple has for their son is evident.
“It’s hard to think my little boy is going to be doing that, but yeah, we’re really proud of him. We couldn’t be prouder!” said Nancy.
The Hansens have been in limited contact with their son as the mission resets.
But with each trip to watch a potential launch in Florida, the reality of what he is about to do intensifies for Nancy.
“This is a very historical mission. We didn’t really realize how big it was. And but now we’re learning more and more, and we’re very fortunate Canada is, to have a seat on this rocket,” she said.
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