Sunday April 5, 2026 | OFF-PLANET
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
From far out in space, Canadian astronaut Col Jeremy Hansen addressed a Canadian audience assembled in the early hours of Easter Sunday morning.
[Also see Easter messages from the Astronauts – link to come]
The livestream event organized by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) was delivered via social media. The on-ground audience was located in Quebec.
Hansen took questions from Canadian children and youth via videos, on a range of things about getting to and being in space.
Hansen discussed how they had done a CPR demo on board (re-enacting some of that) and talked a bit about the food (how it gets rehydrated). He of course included mention of maple syrup on board.
Mission Commander Reid Wiseman together with Hansen briefly explained about how water behaves in space — showing how a droplet of water maintains a spherical shape because it gets equal pressure from all sides.
In recent days the crew has reviewed Orion crew survival systems and tested their survival suits which can included oxygen for up to six days.
Viewing the dark side:
The dark side of the moon is lit up 21% when viewed from the Orion capsule. Moon will appear as the size of a basketball held at arm’s length (when closest to the moon).
The crew will be working hard when on the dark side. Their will analyze and photograph different geological features like craters, lava flows, as well as surface colours, shapes and textures.
Seeing stars:
Due to illumination on board it’s harder to see stars that people might think, said Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman.
Tonight the crew will be pointing at deep space.
“If you give it enough time you start to see the stars,” said Wiseman, adding that the “stars don’t twinkle, they are perfect pin pricks of light”.
Seeing Earth:
Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen described seeing the Earth this morning as like seeing Earth as a bowl just ‘stting there for breakfast’.
The crew has also seen the Earth in shapes that we’re used to seeing the Moon, e.g. half, crescent.
Enthusiasm for space:
Hansen is becoming known for his enthusiasm in suggesting to youth that they follow their passions when they become interested in something.
“Share your dreams and talk about your goals with other people.” He talks about forming a team.
“You can do things that are important to humanity and contribute to civilization through space.”
“When you find solution it isn’t a regional solution it is a global solution that can be shared around the world,” says Hansen.
“Canada’s future in space is bright because of all of you.” said Hansen to the youth audience this morning.
===== RELATED:
- Artemis II from Earth to Moon and back: Day 4 update (April 4, 2026)
- Artemis II crew: burning smell so far not of concern (April 4, 2026)
- Artemis II: Day 3 meals & tech work (April 3, 2026)
- Artemis II: Col Jeremy Hansen says “It was a great burn!” (April 2, 2026)
- Day 2 technology details for Artemis II crew (April 2, 2026)
- Artemis II: troubleshooting some technical things (April 2, 2026)
- Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen heads to the moon (April 1, 2026)
- Artemis Mission Updates (NASA)
- NEWS SECTIONS: AEROSPACE | OFF-PLANET | TECHNOLOGY | NASA