Moon World Resorts Names Artemis II Astronaut Jeremy Hansen
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen joins the Toronto-based company as Astronaut and Space Strategist, with a UAE lunar resort under consideration.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Space
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Moon World Resorts, headquartered in Toronto, has appointed Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen as Astronaut and Space Strategist and to its advisory board. The company is proposing a lunar-themed resort, and Abu Dhabi could be its only viable UAE location because of the land the project requires.
Why it matters
Hansen, the first Canadian and first non-American to take part in a lunar mission, brings direct flight experience to a proposal that is still at an early stage. The announcement does not yet confirm a UAE site, development partner or construction start, so the project's feasibility remains open.
The company's central resort is estimated at about $5 billion excluding land and would require a 225-hectare site, with a proposed 90-minute lunar experience priced at $500. Whether a suitable site and government support can be secured has not been established.
The players
Jeremy Hansen
Canadian astronaut who flew around the Moon on Artemis II and became the first Canadian and first non-American to take part in a lunar mission.
Moon World Resorts
Toronto-based design studio and intellectual property licensor developing a proposed lunar-themed resort concept.
The details
Hansen flew around the Moon aboard Orion with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch during the Artemis II mission, which flew from April 1 to 10 without landing. The company operates as a design studio and intellectual property licensor, with regional licensees expected to fund and deliver individual developments.
Timeline
- April 1 to 10: Artemis II mission flew around the Moon.
- July: Founders said Abu Dhabi might have suitable land.
- September 2026: Hansen stepped away from active Canadian Space Agency astronaut service.
- 2027: Founders expected construction to begin.
- 2032: Company lists this as a potential opening date for its first project.
Big Picture
The proposal follows NASA's Artemis II crewed lunar flyby, which flew April 1 to 10 without landing, by applying that mission's crew expertise to commercial lunar tourism. Whether such commercial ventures move beyond concept stage remains to be seen.
For readers considering space tourism, the proposal's $500 lunar experience and planned Earth-based visits remain concepts without confirmed dates or prices. Any eventual booking would depend on a site, development partner and government approval that have not yet been secured.
The takeaway
Lunar tourism proposals rely on land, funding and government approval long before construction begins, so readers should treat announced timelines such as 2027 construction and 2032 openings as provisional.
Further reading
Explore more Space coverage for the wider context of crewed lunar missions and commercial space ventures.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GULF NEWS.
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