NASA Has Selected Four Astronauts for its First Crewed Moon Mission in 50 Years. Here's Who Will Be on the Historic Artemis II Spaceflight.
A four-person crew, comprised of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will embark on a historic mission to the moon next November 2024, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in over five decades. The other member of the team is Victor Glover, who has prior experience with space travel.
The Artemis II mission, a crucial step towards NASA's long-term goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and eventually sending humans to Mars, will send the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, which was previously tested in an uncrewed mission called Artemis I. The flight is expected to last about 10 days and will see the crew travel beyond the moon, potentially farther than any human has traveled before.
According to NASA spokesperson Kathryn Hambleton, the exact distance of the mission depends on the day of liftoff and the relative distance of the Moon from Earth at that time. After completing its lunar flyby, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II crew is considered diverse, with men and women who represent different backgrounds and experiences. "I can tell you, they still all have the right stuff," said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The crew includes individuals from various fields, including test pilots and engineers.
One member of the team, Christina Koch, was emotional about being selected for the mission. When asked about her reaction upon learning she had been chosen, Koch told CNN that she was "speechless" and "honored" to be part of the team.
The crew will undergo training in preparation for their historic mission. An interview with all four astronauts will air on CNN's morning show.
The Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and pave the way for further space exploration.
A four-person crew, comprised of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will embark on a historic mission to the moon next November 2024, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in over five decades. The other member of the team is Victor Glover, who has prior experience with space travel.
The Artemis II mission, a crucial step towards NASA's long-term goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and eventually sending humans to Mars, will send the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, which was previously tested in an uncrewed mission called Artemis I. The flight is expected to last about 10 days and will see the crew travel beyond the moon, potentially farther than any human has traveled before.
According to NASA spokesperson Kathryn Hambleton, the exact distance of the mission depends on the day of liftoff and the relative distance of the Moon from Earth at that time. After completing its lunar flyby, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II crew is considered diverse, with men and women who represent different backgrounds and experiences. "I can tell you, they still all have the right stuff," said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The crew includes individuals from various fields, including test pilots and engineers.
One member of the team, Christina Koch, was emotional about being selected for the mission. When asked about her reaction upon learning she had been chosen, Koch told CNN that she was "speechless" and "honored" to be part of the team.
The crew will undergo training in preparation for their historic mission. An interview with all four astronauts will air on CNN's morning show.
The Artemis II mission marks a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to return humans to the Moon and pave the way for further space exploration.
about this crew! Four people, diverse backgrounds, getting ready to go back to the moon 
after so long... it's gonna be epic 
. Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch are gonna lead the way, and Jeremy Hansen from Canada is joining them too 
. And Victor Glover is like a seasoned pro for this mission 
.
... it's about time 
. Christina was totally speechless when she found out she made the cut, and I'm feeling her emotions right now 
. Training starts soon, and I hope they all crush it 
.
. And after the moon, they're back to Earth for a splashdown landing 
... safe and sound 
. NASA's doing it again 
50 years is like, forever ago! I remember my old granddad talking about when he was young and saw Neil Armstrong walk on the moon... 
it's crazy how much has changed since then. This mission is gonna be huge for NASA and we should all be super stoked 
. The fact that they've got a diverse crew with different backgrounds and experiences is awesome, it shows that everyone can contribute to making this mission a success 
The team is diverse too, which is awesome 
. Training will start ASAP, can't wait to see them soar 
. This mission is gonna be huge, marking the first step towards a human presence on the moon & Mars 
. Victor Glover's experience will definitely come in handy on this mission. The fact that the team has such a diverse background is awesome, it'll be cool to see how they work together. I'm also stoked about the Orion spacecraft - it's been tested already and now it's time for its maiden voyage with humans on board 
. The thought of them traveling beyond the moon is mind-blowing... they're basically gonna enter uncharted territory! NASA is really pushing the boundaries here, and it's so exciting to see what they'll achieve next.
. The fact that it's a diverse team is super inspiring, especially Christina Koch's reaction when she found out - can't even imagine how epic her training must be 
? and how far are we talkin about them goin beyond the moon? like, is it even possible for a human to survive that kinda journey? also, what's the deal with the pacific ocean splashdown landing? why not just land on mars or somethin' lol 
. wonder if they'll find somethin interesting or useful on the lunar surface 
. can't wait to see them in action next nov! 
.
They're finally going back to the moon! I'm beyond hyped for the Artemis II crew - they sound so amazing and diverse! 
Christina Koch is literally speechless? 
I ship her already! 
And who wouldn't want to be part of a mission that could potentially take them farther than any human has traveled before?! 
Can't imagine what it'd be like to watch them go up or come back down from space... 
. its like how much has humanity changed since the last time we had a crewed mission up there? and what's with the wait game, can't they just fast track this thing already? 
. but i guess thats progress...and it's cool to see different backgrounds and experiences represented on the team, that's definitely a step in the right direction 
Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency too! 
and go beyond 
, who knows where they'll end up? 
. And it's not just the technical aspect, but also the fact that we're getting a diverse crew on board - men and women from different backgrounds, all coming together to achieve something incredible 
. this crew is like, the ultimate team 
Can't wait to see them talk about their experiences on CNN soon. 