In a major leap toward humanity's return to deep space, NASA has unveiled the four-member crew for its ambitious Artemis II mission, the first crewed lunar flyby since the Apollo program era.
The mission will see astronauts travel around the Moon, marking a historic milestone in modern space exploration and setting the stage for future lunar landings.
Meet the Artemis II Crew
The crew brings together a diverse and experienced team of astronauts:
G Reid Wiseman (Commander): Selected in 2009, Wiseman will lead the mission. A Baltimore native, he holds degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Johns Hopkins University. He previously served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station during Expedition 41 in 2014, logging over 165 days in space. Wiseman also headed NASA's Astronaut Office between December 2020 and November 2022.
Victor J. Glover (Pilot): Chosen in 2013, Glover will pilot Artemis II. He earlier served as pilot on the SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the ISS as part of Expedition 64. The California native holds multiple advanced degrees, including in flight test engineering and systems engineering.
Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): Koch, also selected in 2013, brings extensive ISS experience, having served on Expeditions 59, 60 and 61. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman-328 days-and was part of the first all-female spacewalks.
Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): Representing the Canadian Space Agency, Hansen will become the first non-American astronaut to travel to the Moon. A former fighter pilot from Ontario, he holds degrees in space science and physics, and is certified with an Airline Transport Pilot Licence. Hansen is fluent in English and French, with working knowledge of Russian.
A Historic First Beyond US
Hansen's inclusion marks a significant international milestone, underscoring growing global collaboration in lunar exploration. Artemis II will also be the first crewed test flight of NASA's Orion spacecraft, launched aboard the Space Launch System.
As NASA pushes forward with its Artemis program, the mission is expected to pave the way for landing humans back on the lunar surface-this time with a broader international footprint.
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