Carney appoints astronaut Jeremy Hansen to advise government on new space strategy

Posted October 21, 2026 11:04 am.

Last Updated October 21, 2026 11:46 am.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Jeremy Hansen as a special adviser on space.

In a social media post, Hansen says he hopes to build on Canada’s strengths in the field and find new ways to harness opportunities.

He says the role involves advising Carney and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly.

Joly says Hansen proposed helping the government craft a new space strategy, which she says will look to expand industrial innovation and get more Canadians into space.

In April, as part of the Artemis II mission, Hansen and three other astronauts travelled around the moon and further out into space than any humans before them.

His appointment comes as Canada looks to expand space co-operation with European countries, and as Washington warns it can also seek partners other than Canada for its space missions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2026.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

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