NASA's Artemis II Mission Crew: The Astronauts Who Will Return Humans to the Moon in Five Decades
The first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972 is set to launch in November 2024, marking a historic milestone for NASA. For the first time in five decades, humans will return to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis II mission.
The quartet of astronauts selected for this mission are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The crew consists of two American astronauts and two international astronauts: a Canadian. This diverse team represents the first time NASA has sent a mixed-gender, multicultural crew to space on a crewed lunar mission.
Reid Wiseman, 47, is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot from Baltimore, Maryland. He holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American woman, Christina Koch. Wiseman served as chief of the astronaut office before stepping down in November 2022, making him eligible for flight assignment.
Victor Glover, 46, is a naval aviator who piloted the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station. He holds over 3,000 hours of flight experience in more than 40 aircraft.
Christina Koch, 44, is a veteran of six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. She also holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and spent 328 days in space. As an engineer, she helped develop scientific instruments for multiple NASA missions.
Jeremy Hansen, 47, is a fighter pilot from London, Ontario, Canada. He was selected as one of four active Canadian astronauts in 2009 and recently became the first Canadian to lead training for a new class of NASA astronauts.
The Artemis II mission will build on the success of an uncrewed test mission that sent NASA's Orion capsule on a 1.4 million-mile voyage around the moon. If all goes according to plan, the crew will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and embark on a 10-day journey beyond the moon.
After circling the moon, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean. The mission is expected to pave the way for future missions, including Artemis III, which aims to put the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.
The first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972 is set to launch in November 2024, marking a historic milestone for NASA. For the first time in five decades, humans will return to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis II mission.
The quartet of astronauts selected for this mission are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. The crew consists of two American astronauts and two international astronauts: a Canadian. This diverse team represents the first time NASA has sent a mixed-gender, multicultural crew to space on a crewed lunar mission.
Reid Wiseman, 47, is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot from Baltimore, Maryland. He holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American woman, Christina Koch. Wiseman served as chief of the astronaut office before stepping down in November 2022, making him eligible for flight assignment.
Victor Glover, 46, is a naval aviator who piloted the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station. He holds over 3,000 hours of flight experience in more than 40 aircraft.
Christina Koch, 44, is a veteran of six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. She also holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and spent 328 days in space. As an engineer, she helped develop scientific instruments for multiple NASA missions.
Jeremy Hansen, 47, is a fighter pilot from London, Ontario, Canada. He was selected as one of four active Canadian astronauts in 2009 and recently became the first Canadian to lead training for a new class of NASA astronauts.
The Artemis II mission will build on the success of an uncrewed test mission that sent NASA's Orion capsule on a 1.4 million-mile voyage around the moon. If all goes according to plan, the crew will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and embark on a 10-day journey beyond the moon.
After circling the moon, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean. The mission is expected to pave the way for future missions, including Artemis III, which aims to put the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.
- two Americans, two international astronauts... it's like a mini-USA 
! I wonder if they're gonna be seen as a symbol of unity or just another example of how NASA's still struggling with its diversity issues 
. Jeremy Hansen from Canada is the first Canadian to lead training for a new class, but shouldn't we have more representation from all countries? 
! Christina Koch's record-breaking spaceflight was pretty groundbreaking, but Reid Wiseman just kinda coasted on her coattails 
. Victor Glover's got a ton of flight experience, but is that really what we need for this mission? 
. And don't even get me started on the Space Launch System rocket - it's like NASA is trying to make up for its lack of investment in space tech 
!
#NASA #ArtemisII #MoonBound #SpaceX #WomenInSTEM
That's a pretty bold timeline if you ask me... sources please! 
. The diversity of this crew is super inspiring, especially with a Canadian on board 
. It just goes to show that space exploration isn't exclusive to any one nation or demographic.
. Bring it on!
NASA's Artemis II Mission is like, finally happening after all these years! It's amazing that we're getting a diverse team of astronauts, including a Canadian 
. Reid Wiseman's got some sweet credentials, but has he actually done any actual work as an astronaut or is it just about looking good in his NASA jumpsuit? 
.