The four astronauts NASA picked for the first crewed moon mission in 50 years
The four astronauts NASA picked for the first crewed moon mission in 50 years
NASA has announced the four astronauts set to lead the first crewed lunar mission in half a century, marking a significant step toward deep-space exploration. The crew, comprising Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, will begin rigorous training for the Artemis II flyby, slated for November 2024. This mission aims to orbit the moon and return to Earth, laying the groundwork for future ventures to the lunar surface.
Commander Reid Wiseman
Wiseman, a 47-year-old naval aviator and test pilot, was first chosen as a NASA astronaut in 2009. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he previously flew a 165-day mission to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket in 2014. After serving as head of NASA’s astronaut office until November 2022, he is now assigned as commander of Artemis II. His leadership experience positions him to guide the crew through the historic journey.
Jeremy Hansen: Canada’s Deep-Space Representative
Hansen, 47, is a fighter pilot selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009. Originally from London, Ontario, he is among only four active Canadian astronauts and recently became the first to oversee training for a new NASA astronaut class. This role makes him a pioneer in deep-space travel, as he will be the first Canadian to venture beyond the moon’s orbit.
Victor Glover: A Veteran of Space and Combat
Glover, 46, is a naval aviator who completed his first spaceflight in 2021, piloting SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft for nearly six months aboard the International Space Station. During a Monday ceremony at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Glover emphasized the mission’s historical importance. “It’s so much more than the four names that have been announced,” he said. “We need to celebrate this moment in human history… It is the next step in the journey that will get humanity to Mars.”
Christina Koch: Record-Breaking Astronaut
Koch, 44, is known for her six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, having spent 328 days in orbit. An electrical engineer, she has contributed to the development of scientific equipment for various NASA missions. Her time at the South Pole, a demanding expedition, may have prepared her for the challenges of lunar travel.
Artemis II will build on the success of Artemis I, an uncrewed test mission that completed a 1.4 million-mile loop around the moon in December. NASA is still analyzing data from that journey, which served as a critical milestone. The upcoming mission will launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center using the Space Launch System rocket, with a 10-day voyage expected to take the crew farther from Earth than any human has traveled. The exact distance will vary based on the launch date and the moon’s position.
“The exact distance beyond the Moon will depend on the day of liftoff and the relative distance of the Moon from the Earth at the time of the mission,” said NASA spokesperson Kathryn Hambleton via email.
Following the lunar flyby, the crew will splash down in the Pacific Ocean. Artemis II is intended to precede Artemis III, which NASA plans to send the first woman and person of color to the moon by the end of this decade. However, key technologies like spacesuits and a lunar lander are still under development, highlighting the mission’s reliance on cutting-edge advancements.
