Hansen, together with American astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, took half in a dwell question-and-answer session early Sunday from aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft to reply questions submitted by Canadian youngsters.
The digital occasion, the second of its type, happened about 4 days into the 10-day lunar flyby mission.
One youth requested how meals is ready and eaten in house, whereas one other needed Hansen to select a film that greatest displays what it’s like in house. Hansen responded with 1995’s “Apollo 13” starring Tom Hanks — save for its disastrous chain of occasions.
“That film actually reveals you numerous what it’s like with simply three people trapped in a tiny capsule and surviving in house collectively,” the 50-year-old from Ontario mentioned. “It’s one in every of my favorite house films.”
Forward of the Q-and-A, NASA introduced on social media that the 4 astronauts had been formally “moonbound” and had been greater than midway there. The house company additionally shared two images of the moon, and one of many within the Orion capsule.
Artemis II is the primary crewed mission to the moon for the reason that Apollo flights of the Sixties and ’70s. It had been delayed just a few occasions since February on account of hydrogen gasoline leaks and helium circulate issues.
Throughout Sunday’s occasion, one youth requested how human organs behave in microgravity.
Hansen mentioned he doesn’t discover a lot of a distinction, however he can really feel the blood shifting from one a part of his physique to a different.
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“I’m positive my face is lots (extra) puffy now as a result of there’s much more blood up in my higher areas of my physique, as a result of gravity isn’t continually pulling it down,” he mentioned.
“I can simply type of really feel it in my head … It’s not unhealthy. But it surely’s simply barely completely different.”
Koch mentioned when astronauts spend a variety of time in microgravity, organs adapt to the setting. The center doesn’t work as arduous to pump blood to the mind. Because of the lack of gravity, she additionally mentioned there’s danger of kidney illness.
Hansen was additionally requested whether or not the crew sees a crescent-shaped Earth, as these on the bottom generally see a crescent moon within the night time sky.
“The truth is we do,” he mentioned. “We’ve seen a half-Earth, partial crescent Earth, we’ve seen a darkish Earth.”
This picture supplied by NASA reveals the moon seen from the Orion spacecraft Integrity in the course of the Artemis II mission on Friday, April 3, 2026.
NASA through AP
The four-person crew is anticipated to do a lunar flyby on Day 6 of the mission. They’ll zip across the moon of their capsule — concerning the measurement of a campervan — earlier than coming residence.
The Canadian House Company says that on arrival on the moon, the crew will spend a number of hours observing and photographing its floor to assist scientists perceive the geologic processes that formed it and the photo voltaic system.
At its closest, the moon will likely be concerning the measurement of a basketball held at arm’s size.
Hansen mentioned there’s been a variety of private give-and-take on this mission. His household, he mentioned, has needed to give him some grace and make some sacrifices.
“Typically with this job, I can’t be there for them when they want me to be there,” he mentioned. “There’s a variety of sacrifice from the household, and they also’ve positively carried out that for me, they usually’ve been my best cheerleaders alongside the best way.”
Requested in French what function younger individuals play in the way forward for house exploration, Hansen mentioned it’s “crucial that the subsequent technology contributes to our future.”
“When there’s something that pursuits you, study as a lot as doable and in addition share this dream, this purpose, with others and kind a staff, and you are able to do vital issues for humanity,” he mentioned.
The capsule and its crew are anticipated to splash down April 10 within the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
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