Biography of Jeremy R. Hansen
- Date of birth:
- From: London, Ontario
- Background: Fighter pilot
- Education: Bachelor of science in space science; master of science in physics
- Flight certification: Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
- Languages: English, French, basic knowledge of Russian
- Mission: Waiting for a flight assignment
Personal data: Born , in London, Ontario, and raised on a farm near Ailsa Craig, Ontario, until moving to Ingersoll for his high school years. Colonel Hansen is married with three children. He enjoys sailboat cruising and racing, rock climbing and mountain biking.
Education: Colonel Hansen holds a bachelor of science in space science (first class honours) from Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario (). He earned a master of science in physics from the same institution in , with a research focus on Wide Field of View Satellite Tracking.
Organizations: Canadian Armed Forces, to present
Special honours: Canadian Forces Decoration – 12 Years of Good Service (), Canadian Air Force Pilot Wings (), Clancy Scheldrup Memorial Trophy – Outstanding Graduate on the Basic Flying Course (), Air Cadet League of Canada Award – Top Air Force Graduate from the Royal Military College of Canada (), The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal ().
Jeremy Hansen answers 10 fun questions in 60 seconds. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
Experience: Prior to joining the Canadian Space Program, Colonel Hansen served as a CF-18 fighter pilot and held the position of Combat Operations Officer at 4 Wing in Cold Lake, Alberta. His responsibilities included ensuring the effectiveness of NORAD Air Defense Operations and the operability of Deployed and Forward Operating Locations (Bases).
From to , Colonel Hansen served as a CF-18 fighter pilot with 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron and 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron, where his responsibilities included NORAD Operations, Deployed Exercises and Arctic Flying Operations. He completed his CF-18 Fighter Pilot Training in 410 Tactical Fighter Operational Training Squadron from to .
Colonel Hansen's flight experience began at the age of 12, when he joined the Air Cadet Program. He obtained both glider and private pilot licenses through this program by the age of 17. This training led to his acceptance to Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
Astronaut experience: Colonel Hansen was one of two recruits selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in through the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign. He is one of 14 members of the 20th National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut class. In , Colonel Hansen graduated from Astronaut Candidate Training, which included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in International Space Station (ISS) systems, extravehicular activities (EVAs, or spacewalks), robotics, physiological training, T-38 flight training, Russian language courses, and sea and wilderness survival training.
While waiting for a flight assignment, Colonel Hansen represents CSA at NASA, and works at the Mission Control Center as Capcom — the voice between the ground and the ISS. In , he became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class, which means that he is in charge of the training astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.
In addition to his day-to-day work, Colonel Hansen remains committed to building and maintaining his skills; he takes spacewalk and robotics training while continuing to learn Russian. He has taken part in geological expeditions in the High Arctic and participated in the European Space Agency's CAVES program, during which he lived underground for six days. He was also a crew member for NEEMO 19, where he lived and worked on the ocean floor in the Aquarius habitat off Key Largo, Florida, for seven days simulating deep space exploration. Colonel Hansen maintains his pilot currency on the NASA T-38 jet aircraft as part of his astronaut training. He had the privilege of inspiring young Canadians by flying the historical Hawk One F-86 Sabre jet.
Q&A with Jeremy Hansen
What motivated Jeremy Hansen to become an astronaut? What is the best career advice he's ever received?
Space and exploration
Why did you want to become an astronaut?
The idea of exploring new places and accomplishing the seemingly impossible excites me. Being an astronaut affords the opportunity to be part of an amazing team that creates solutions for complex problems. To do something that has never been done before means that your team is very likely to face failure. I like the fact that in space, we are committed to bold goals to the extent that we will not let periodic failure stop our forward progress.
Meet Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. (Credit: CSA)
Work and studies
What motivated you to study in your fields?
I studied space science at the Royal Military College of Canada, as I wanted to understand more about orbital mechanics and how to design systems to work in the harsh environment of space. It was a fascinating field of study. I didn't realize it when I chose space science, but as I learnt more, I was fascinated by the endless possibilities to use unique orbits and satellite infrastructure to deliver services to humans around the globe and to better understand planet Earth.
What was your previous job?
I joined the Canadian Forces at the age of 18, completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Royal Military College of Canada, and then started military pilot training. I was selected to complete CF-18 fighter jet training at 410 Squadron, following which I completed two tours with 441 and 409 Tactical Fighter Squadrons, where I learned to employ the CF-18 across a variety of different missions.
What did you like best about your job and how has it prepared you for a career as astronaut?
Flying fighter jets was an exciting career given the diverse challenges it presented. CF-18 fighter pilots fly alone in their individual aircraft but always as part of a team of aircraft. Anywhere from two up to dozens of aircraft working together depending on the mission. The extensive practice, commitment to constant improvement, teamwork and risk management in a very dangerous environment are skill sets very applicable to the role of astronaut.
Canadian astronauts Jeremy Hansen and David Saint-Jacques explain why piloting planes is an integral part of astronaut training. (Credit: CSA)
Advice and inspiration
What is your motto?
Accept and appreciate where you are, stay in the mindset of creating solutions to the challenges you face, and find happiness in every day.
What is the best career advice you've ever received?
When striving toward your goals, seek out paths that are of most interest for you. When you are doing things of great interest, you will generally perform better, contribute more and have more fun doing it. This was the essence of the advice Chris Hadfield gave me when I was at the Royal Military College of Canada aspiring to be an astronaut.
Think back to a teacher who had a positive impact on your life. What did she/he do to influence you?
I had a number of teachers who fuelled my inquisitive nature by teaching me to enjoy learning through problem solving and reading to further my understanding. They also developed my patience to sit with problems that I couldn't easily and intuitively solve. They took a long-term approach to developing me as a life-long learner. I was not memorizing for a test or exam; I was learning how to learn. I use that skill set every day now (still working on it).
Jeremy Hansen trains to spacewalk. (Credit: NASA)
Jeremy Hansen took part of in a training flight Cold Lake, Alberta. (Credit: National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces)
Jeremy Hansen on a geological expedition on Victoria Island - Shatter cone. (Credit: CSA)
Jeremy Hansen during a robotics training session. (Credit: CSA)
Personal tastes and favourites
What is your favourite sci-fi movie?
I've been a big fan of the Star Wars series since I was young, and I enjoy watching the series with my children today. There are many great life lessons buried in the stories as the characters face many great challenges. They must summon the courage to stand up for others, value the greater good over their own well-being, and of course, I was enthralled by the magic of the Force! Plus Han Solo and Chewie just make me laugh.
What is your favourite book?
I don't read much fiction but someone suggested that I read The Martian by Andy Weir, and I absolutely loved it. Specifically, I appreciated that Mark Watney essentially knows the odds are such that he will die on Mars. But regardless, he is committed to survive or die trying. He stays in a creative mindset and just keeps solving problems one at a time. He has no clue how his efforts could all add up to success, but that doesn't stop him from working towards his goal. That is a great way to view life. Akin to the quote by Martin Luther King Jr. — "You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
What is your favourite place on Earth?
I have explored a number of places in the Canadian Arctic, including some well-preserved meteor craters there. I fell in love with the rugged and untouched beauty of the tundra. I was amazed at the resilience of the wildlife and fauna that create an existence there in such a challenging and seemingly barren environment. There is something inspiring about the Arctic. Those who have visited know exactly what I am describing.
What is your most treasured possession?
Many of our family's personal possessions were destroyed when our Houston home was flooded. It helped us realize that the physical stuff we collect just doesn't matter that much. The exception to this was our photos and journals. Most all of that was spared, and we were very grateful to still have those items to help us remember and visualize the people who have been in our lives and the great adventures we've been on. Some of the journals from our children's early years were flooded, but a friend painstakingly dried them out page by page and returned them. It was one of the kindest gifts we've ever received. While these photos and journals are not super important in and of themselves, they are great reminders of the importance of people and connection in our lives.
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