As the capsule approached its moment of landing on Earth, the family of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen was living through moments filled with emotion, joining millions of people worldwide in following the return of the Artemis II mission crew from their historic journey around the Moon.
Ashley Hansen, one of the astronaut’s twin daughters, shared that the family was spread across different locations to witness this rare moment: her mother and brother were at Mission Control, while she watched the landing from Montreal, together with her sister.
“When I see him, I’ll hug him tight. I think it will feel unbelievable to all of us that he actually did this,” Ashley expressed.
The 20-year-old also shared an emotional detail that has connected their family for years: a phrase they have used since childhood.
“We’ve always said: ‘I love you to the Moon and back.’ It’s something that has been with us since we were little,” she said.
She also recalled a special gesture from her father in 2023, when the mission was announced. He had prepared a personalized pendant with birthstones for each family member.
“It’s in the shape of a crescent moon and engraved with ‘to the Moon and back.’ It holds a very deep meaning for us, especially now that he has actually experienced this journey,” Ashley shared.
According to her, the most beautiful moment is yet to come: the family reunion and the full recounting of this extraordinary adventure.
“We can’t wait to all sit down together and hear every detail from him. I’m sure it will be the greatest story we’ve ever heard,” she concluded.