The four astronauts NASA picked for the first crewed moon mission in 50 years

NASA Has Chosen Its First Crewed Moon Mission Astronauts in Five Decades, and They're Ready for the Journey of a Lifetime.

In a historic announcement on Monday, NASA revealed that its first crewed moon mission in five decades is set to launch in November 2024. And at the helm of this journey will be four astronauts from around the world: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.

Wiseman, a 47-year-old naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. With his background in decorated service, including one prior spaceflight to the International Space Station, Wiseman is no stranger to the challenges of space travel.

Glover, also 47 years old, is a seasoned astronaut with over 3,000 hours of flight experience under his belt. Having spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station as part of the SpaceX Crew-1 team, Glover is well-equipped for the demands of deep space travel.

Koch, 44 years young, is an engineer-turned-astronaut who has already demonstrated her expertise in space exploration with a record-breaking six spacewalks and 328 days spent in space. Her experience working on NASA missions will be invaluable to the Artemis II crew.

And then there's Hansen, a fighter pilot from Canada, who is about to make history as the first Canadian astronaut to venture into deep space. With his unique blend of military experience and astronaut training, Hansen is set to bring an exciting perspective to the mission.

While all four astronauts have been handpicked for their exceptional skills and experience, the selection process itself remains shrouded in secrecy. Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, only confirmed that the diversity of the Artemis II crew was a key factor in their selection, saying "They still all have the right stuff."

For Koch, the news came as a surprise – she and two other astronauts were accidentally late to an initial meeting under different pretenses. The offer caught her off guard, leaving her "speechless" for a moment.

The Artemis II mission will be a historic milestone in human space exploration, marking the first time humans have touched down on the moon since 1972. If everything goes according to plan, the crew of four astronauts will embark on a thrilling journey that will take them beyond the lunar horizon and into the vast expanse of deep space.

As they prepare for their epic adventure, the world waits with bated breath to see what these incredible individuals will achieve next. One thing is certain – this mission will be one for the ages.

can't believe we're finally getting back to the moon after all these years! I mean, it's not just about the tech and science behind it, but also the humans who are going to make it happen Reid Wiseman is leading the charge, and I'm low-key freaking out thinking about that 47-year-old naval aviator flying solo

Meanwhile, Christina Koch is about to become the ultimate space legend – six spacewalks? 328 days in space? That's some serious skills right there Jeremy Hansen is also repping Canada and making history with his first deep space mission

It's amazing how much talent and experience NASA has gathered for this crew, and I love that they're emphasizing diversity as a key factor in their selection Vanessa Wyche said it all – "they still have the right stuff" And from what I've heard, Koch was totally surprised by her own chance at joining this mission

We're on the cusp of something HUGE here The Artemis II crew is about to take us on a wild ride beyond our lunar horizon and into the vast expanse of deep space Can't wait to see what they achieve next!

I'm low-key hyped about this NASA crew selection! These astronauts have got some serious cred - Wiseman's a naval aviator, Glover's been to space multiple times, Koch has done record-breaking spacewalks, and Hansen's gonna be like "Hey, moon, what's up?" It's dope that they chose people from different backgrounds too. Koch was definitely caught off guard, but I'm sure she'll bring some awesome engineering skills to the table. And let's be real, we're living in a time where we're basically going back to the moon... it's wild!

omg can u even believe nasa's got a crewed moon mission lined up for 2024?? it's been ages since we've had humans on the lunar surface and now they're throwing in 4 awesome astronauts to make it happen! reid wiseman is gonna be the commander which is awesome given his naval aviator background. victor glover has flown over 3000 hours of flight experience so he's basically a space pro already . christina koch is super cool too - 6 spacewalks under her belt? that's insane! and Jeremy Hansen is like, the first canadian astronaut in deep space we need more representation like this! anywayz, can't wait to see these astronauts crush their mission

man i cant believe nasa is doing this again its like we forgot how to go to the moon lol remember when kennedy was all about making america great and going to the moon? we should've done that instead of focusing on smartphones and social media anyway what's with the lack of american astronauts i mean these guys are from canada and germany it's cool but its not the same as having americans leading this mission you know like wiseman is old news compared to when john young was 47

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... I mean, NASA just picks anyone and calls them an astronaut now? Reid Wiseman's background is nice and all, but what about all the other qualified candidates who didn't make the cut? And then there's the whole thing with Christina Koch being "speechless" when she found out – that sounds like some scripted nonsense to me.

And don't even get me started on Jeremy Hansen... a fighter pilot from Canada, you say? I've got my eye on him. What's his real motive for joining this mission? Is he just in it for the adventure or is there something more going on beneath the surface?

I mean, we all know that NASA's been experimenting with some weird stuff over the years... like those secret Mars missions and the whole " asteroid mining" thing. What if this moon mission is just a cover for something bigger? Maybe they're not actually going to land on the moon, but instead are using it as a testing ground for their real plan: establishing a human settlement on Mars.

We'll just have to wait and see what really goes down, I guess... but one thing's for sure – I'll be keeping a close eye on this mission!

omg i'm so hyped!!! these astronauts are literally going to make history!! Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch & Jeremy Hansen r the perfect team 4 a historic moon mission! can't wait 2 see them set foot on the lunar horizon in Nov 2024 . all i can think is wow what an incredible experience they're gonna have out there!!!

I'm hyped for this moon mission! Having diverse astronauts like Jeremy Hansen from Canada on board will bring a fresh perspective and help NASA connect with the global community. Christina Koch's six spacewalks are insane! It's amazing how far we've come since 1972, but it's also mind-blowing that we're finally going back. The fact that these astronauts had to deal with a 'surprise' offer because they were late to an initial meeting is pretty wild too

I'm so hyped about this new moon mission! I mean, it's been a while since we've had humans on the moon, and it's time for some fresh faces to join the crew. I love that there's a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences on board - it'll be awesome to see how they all come together to make history . Christina Koch is definitely giving me spacewalk goals , and Jeremy Hansen's Canadian vibes are gonna bring a cool new perspective to the mission . Can't wait to see what November 2024 has in store for us!

So I think it's super cool that NASA has finally chosen its first crewed moon mission astronauts in five decades. The fact that they've picked four talented individuals from around the world, each with their own unique background and experience, is really exciting. I mean, can you imagine being part of a team that's about to make history by setting foot on the moon again? Reid Wiseman as commander, Victor Glover's extensive flight experience, Christina Koch's record-breaking spacewalks... it's like NASA has put together a dream crew! And Jeremy Hansen is going to be the first Canadian astronaut in deep space, which is just amazing. I love how diverse the team is - it's definitely going to bring some fresh perspectives to the mission. Now, let's hope everything goes smoothly and they can make it to the moon without any major issues. It's been a long time coming, but finally, we're on the cusp of something incredible!

I'm so stoked about this news! It's amazing that we're finally going back to the moon and beyond . These astronauts are handpicked for a reason, and it's incredible to see the diversity on the crew - it just goes to show that we can put together an awesome team with people from all walks of life . I've got to say, I'm loving the fact that they're keeping things secretive about the selection process... it only adds to the excitement . And Christina Koch is going to be amazing out there - six spacewalks and 328 days in space? That's some serious experience . Bring on November 2024, can't wait to see what these astronauts achieve

can you believe it's finally happening? we've been waiting for like forever to go back to the moon and now we're gonna have a crew of amazing astronauts leading the charge! Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all super talented individuals with so much experience under their belts. I'm loving how diverse this crew is - it's awesome that NASA prioritized getting people from different backgrounds on board for this mission. Christina Koch's record-breaking spacewalks are giving me life , and can't wait to see Jeremy Hansen make history as the first Canadian astronaut in deep space! This Artemis II mission is gonna be so epic - can't wait to follow along and see what these astronauts achieve!

OMG, can you believe it's finally happening?! I've been following NASA's progress for years and it's amazing to see them finally choosing crewed moon mission astronauts! 2024 can't come soon enough Reid Wiseman as commander, Victor Glover with over 3000 hours of flight experience, Christina Koch with those record-breaking spacewalks... this team is GOING TO CRUSH IT!!! And Jeremy Hansen breaking that Canadian astronaut barrier? Mind. Blown.