NASA has announced the four astronauts who will make up its first crewed mission to the moon in nearly five decades. The team, comprising Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, will embark on an historic journey aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.
Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. He was first selected to be a NASA astronaut in 2009 and has previously flown on the International Space Station. The 47-year-old Maryland native is no stranger to space travel, having completed a six-month stint on the ISS in 2014.
Glover, another seasoned aviator, will join Wiseman on the mission. A naval aviator by trade, Glover returned from his first spaceflight last year after piloting SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. The 46-year-old California native has logged over 3,000 flight hours and was part of the historic Crew-1 mission to the ISS in 2020.
Christina Koch, a veteran engineer and astronaut, will round out the crew. The 44-year-old Michigan native holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, spending an astonishing 328 days on the ISS. Koch is also an accomplished spacewalker, having completed six extravehicular activities during her time in space.
Jeremy Hansen, the fourth member of the team, will make history as Canada's first astronaut to travel to deep space. The 47-year-old fighter pilot was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009 and has since become a leading expert in training NASA astronauts.
The Artemis II mission is expected to launch in November 2024, with the crew embarking on a 10-day journey to circle the moon. After completing their lunar flyby, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The selection process for the team was shrouded in secrecy, but NASA's director of the Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche, revealed that the crew members were chosen based on their diverse skills and experience. "They all have the right stuff," Wyche said, hinting at the rigorous training regimen that awaits the astronauts.
An interview with the four astronauts will air on CNN This Morning next week, offering viewers a glimpse into the team's preparations for this historic mission.
Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. He was first selected to be a NASA astronaut in 2009 and has previously flown on the International Space Station. The 47-year-old Maryland native is no stranger to space travel, having completed a six-month stint on the ISS in 2014.
Glover, another seasoned aviator, will join Wiseman on the mission. A naval aviator by trade, Glover returned from his first spaceflight last year after piloting SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. The 46-year-old California native has logged over 3,000 flight hours and was part of the historic Crew-1 mission to the ISS in 2020.
Christina Koch, a veteran engineer and astronaut, will round out the crew. The 44-year-old Michigan native holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, spending an astonishing 328 days on the ISS. Koch is also an accomplished spacewalker, having completed six extravehicular activities during her time in space.
Jeremy Hansen, the fourth member of the team, will make history as Canada's first astronaut to travel to deep space. The 47-year-old fighter pilot was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009 and has since become a leading expert in training NASA astronauts.
The Artemis II mission is expected to launch in November 2024, with the crew embarking on a 10-day journey to circle the moon. After completing their lunar flyby, the spacecraft will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The selection process for the team was shrouded in secrecy, but NASA's director of the Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche, revealed that the crew members were chosen based on their diverse skills and experience. "They all have the right stuff," Wyche said, hinting at the rigorous training regimen that awaits the astronauts.
An interview with the four astronauts will air on CNN This Morning next week, offering viewers a glimpse into the team's preparations for this historic mission.
OMG, can't wait for the Artemis II mission! Four talented astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, are about to make history by traveling back to the moon 
. Wiseman's space travel experience is so cool, having flown on the ISS before - I'm sure he'll lead the team with ease 
. And can we talk about Christina Koch's impressive spaceflight record? 328 days on the ISS is insane! 
It's awesome that NASA chose a diverse team with unique skills - this mission is going to be lit 
. The fact that Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian astronaut in deep space makes me super excited for Canada 
. November 2024 can't come soon enough - let's get ready for some out-of-this-world adventures!
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. and jerey hansen becoming canada's first astronaut to travel to deep space is huge for the canadian space agency 
. it makes me wonder what kind of training regimen awaits them before launch... are they gonna be stuck in a simulator for weeks on end? 
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I'm so done with NASA's Orion spacecraft 
it's just going to be another fancy spaceplane that ends up being delayed... again 
. I mean, I get it, safety first and all that, but come on NASA, can't you do better than a 10-day flyby around the moon?! 
. "They all have the right stuff"? More like, they all have a lot of money and connections 
. Anyway, I guess it'll be cool to watch them interview on CNN next week 
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I'm literally so stoked about this Artemis II mission!!! Reid Wiseman as commander is gonna be EVERYTHING 
328 days in space?! Mind. Blown. 
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Jeremy Hansen making history as Canada's first astronaut in deep space? So cool to see Canada getting involved in this program 
. I just can't wait for the Artemis II mission to launch in November 2024 
The fact that they're going on a 10-day journey just to circle the moon is pretty wild, and what's with the splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean? Can't they just try for a soft landing like they do in movies? And I'm not buying the whole "they have the right stuff" thing from NASA's director... sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Now we're seeing NASA do the same thing, but with an even bigger deal! 
. What do you think about this mission? Is it too long of a journey 10 days is a long time, even with the best training 
November 2024 can't come soon enough! 
. Jeremy Hansen making history as Canada's first astronaut in deep space is so cool