Media Advisory - Happening soon: Launch of the historic Artemis II mission

LONGUEUIL, QC, March 30, 2026 /CNW/ - Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will soon fly around the Moon aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft as part of the Artemis II mission. The next launch window will open up on April 1^st, 2026, at 6:24 pm ET.

Media representatives are invited to join CSA astronaut David Saint‑Jacques at the John H. Chapman Space Centre in Longueuil to watch the live launch of this historic mission. The event will highlight Canada's valuable contributions to Artemis II.

CSA experts will also be on site to give interviews.

All media must present their press card at the gate and again at the reception desk. Please arrive early to avoid any security-related delays. The launch window is two hours long.

Date:	April 1^st, 2026
Time:	5:45 pm ET
Who:	David Saint-Jacques, CSA Astronaut
	Kumudu Jinadasa, Senior Engineer, Project/Program Management
Where:	Marc Garneau Conference Centre
	John H. Chapman Space Centre
	6767 Route de l'Aéroport
	Longueuil, Quebec

This event will also be livestreamed on the CSA's YouTube channel.

Many other launch events will be held across the country.

• The CSA event will be livestreamed during an event at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. CSA experts will be on site to take questions from the media and give interviews.

Media are invited to attend in person.

Date:	April 1^st, 2026
Time:	5:45 pm ET
Who:	Timothy Haltigin, Senior Scientist, Lunar and Planetary Science
	Jamie Sevigny, Director, Space Exploration Development
Where:	Canada Aviation and Space Museum
	11 Aviation Parkway
	Ottawa, Ontario

• Watch parties in your area: Public activities (at science centres, museums, libraries, community centres, etc.) will be open to the media across the country to highlight this historic launch. Find a watch party near you.

Launch in Florida

• CSA astronaut Joshua Kutryk and CSA experts will be in Florida and available to take questions from the media and give interviews. Only media representatives who have already been accredited may attend the launch at Kennedy Space Center.

Media who have questions about any of the launch events are asked to contact the Media Relations Office.

Additional information

Canada will make history when Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian – and first non-American – to ever participate in a lunar mission. Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to the Moon since the Apollo missions over 50 years ago.

• Artemis II: Destination Moon
• Information kit – Artemis II mission
• Information kit – Canada's role in lunar exploration

Website: www.asc-csa.gc.ca
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SOURCE Canadian Space Agency

Contact information: Canadian Space Agency, Media Relations Office, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]