The 2023 edition of the Calgary Stampede launched this July 7, getting an out-of-this-world start. The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth looked to the stars for this year’s parade marshal, Canadian Space Agency Astronaut, Jeremy Hansen.

Hansen, who is from London, Ontario and has a background as a fighter pilot, is set to become the first Canuck to visit the Moon as part of NASA’s 2024 Artemis II mission, the first manned mission to leave the Earth’s orbit since 1972. Wearing the customary white Stetson, jeans, and cowboy boots, Hansen looked the cowboy part as he led the parade last Friday to launch the 10-day event which has been taking place since 1912.

“This is pretty special. I am Christmas-kid kind of excited about riding Cisco today and being amongst all these cowboys,” Hansen told the CBC  just before making his parade debut. “I am just a pretender today, I guess, but excited to be here. It feels good.”

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