CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen inspired by "Earthrise"

Uploaded on December 21, 2022

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CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen inspired by "Earthrise"

2022-12-21 – Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen tells the story of how the crew of Apollo 8 captured the famous "Earthrise" photo as they came around the backside of the Moon in December 1968. He is inspired and excited by this fact that a Canadian astronaut will see the Earth like this, with their own eyes, for the first time during the Artemis II mission. (Credits: Canadian Space Agency, NASA)

Jeremy Hansen: Hi! I am Jeremy Hansen, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency.

When they launched in December 1968, the crew of Apollo 8, the first to orbit the Moon, had only one objective: to go to the Moon and get back alive.

They were photographing the lunar surface when they saw the Earth rising for the first time.

As they came around the backside of the Moon and took that famous Earthrise photo of the globe hanging in the blackness of space, we saw our entire planet for the first time — its beauty, its fragility — and we were reminded that we are in all this together.

The crew of Apollo 8 was awestruck by what they saw. They went to observe the Moon, but what touched them profoundly is to see Earth.

This time, when we return to the Moon, our eyes will purposely be focus back on our planet and the challenges that face us right here at home.

This is what excites me about the Artemis missions.

This view that the Apollo 8 astronaut shared with the world, will be seen by a Canadian for the first time.

That makes me proud and excited for a new era of space exploration.

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