NASA has announced the selection of four astronauts who will form the first crewed mission to the moon in over five decades. The team, comprising Reid Wiseman from NASA, Victor Glover and Christina Koch also from NASA, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, is set to embark on an historic Artemis II lunar flyby.
The four-person crew boasts diverse backgrounds, including extensive spaceflight experience, test piloting skills, and engineering expertise. Wiseman, a 47-year-old decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the mission. Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot who has been training for astronaut duties since 2009.
Glover, 46, is a seasoned space traveler who has spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station on the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. Koch, 44, holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with over 328 days in space. The team will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on a journey expected to last around 10 days.
The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards NASA's long-term goal of establishing a permanent lunar outpost and eventually sending humans to Mars. The crew's selection marks an important milestone for the agency's diversity efforts, with four astronauts from different backgrounds coming together to form a cohesive team.
Upon successful completion of the Artemis II mission, the crew will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean. While the exact distance traveled by the spacecraft is yet to be determined, the mission promises to send humanity further than ever before. An interview with the four astronauts will air on CNN's "This Morning" on Tuesday, offering viewers a unique glimpse into the experiences of these brave pioneers.
The Artemis II mission sets the stage for NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the moon and ultimately explore deeper space. With this historic crew in place, the agency is poised to make significant strides towards its goals and pave the way for future generations of astronauts.
The four-person crew boasts diverse backgrounds, including extensive spaceflight experience, test piloting skills, and engineering expertise. Wiseman, a 47-year-old decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the mission. Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot who has been training for astronaut duties since 2009.
Glover, 46, is a seasoned space traveler who has spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station on the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. Koch, 44, holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with over 328 days in space. The team will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, embarking on a journey expected to last around 10 days.
The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards NASA's long-term goal of establishing a permanent lunar outpost and eventually sending humans to Mars. The crew's selection marks an important milestone for the agency's diversity efforts, with four astronauts from different backgrounds coming together to form a cohesive team.
Upon successful completion of the Artemis II mission, the crew will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean. While the exact distance traveled by the spacecraft is yet to be determined, the mission promises to send humanity further than ever before. An interview with the four astronauts will air on CNN's "This Morning" on Tuesday, offering viewers a unique glimpse into the experiences of these brave pioneers.
The Artemis II mission sets the stage for NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the moon and ultimately explore deeper space. With this historic crew in place, the agency is poised to make significant strides towards its goals and pave the way for future generations of astronauts.
chosen to 'explore the cosmos'... Meanwhile, I'm over here watching my Netflix show get cancelled 
. Can't say I blame the Canadians for sending Jeremy Hansen along though, I mean, he's got fighter pilot skills and all that 
. And Christina Koch, nice record breaker 
. Reid Wiseman seems pretty cool too, I guess being a decorated naval aviator is something to brag about 
. But seriously, 10 days on the moon? That's just peachy 
...
. I'm also loving that NASA is all about representation here - it's dope to see four different backgrounds coming together as one team. This mission is not just about exploring space, it's about inspiring future generations to be part of it too 
. Bring on the Artemis II journey and get ready for some out-of-this-world excitement!
my bf works at a tech startup in cali and he's literally freaking out bc his buddy who's an engineer is going to be part of the team 
Jeremy hansen is a canadian astronaut and I am HERE. FOR. IT 
can't wait to see what this mission accomplishes 
. The diversity on this crew is what gets me, it's amazing to see people from different backgrounds coming together for a common goal 
. I'm also loving the fact that they're pushing towards Mars next... let's get this space party started! 
. Four years of training and now they get to go on a 10-day joyride around the moon? What's the point of that? Just so they can say they went to the moon and got some decent Instagram shots 
. It's just a publicity stunt to distract us from the real issues at home 
. Mark my words, they'll come back with some half-baked idea about "establishing a permanent lunar outpost" and we'll be stuck with another billion-dollar boondoggle 
it's like, what if they crash or something? but at the same time i'm soooo hyped for them!!! Reid Wiseman is a total rockstar as a test pilot and Christina Koch is like a space legend with that record-breaking spaceflight lol
so they just picked 4 random ppl from different agencies & countries... how does that even work? like whats the vetting process like? I need sources on this 
how can we be sure these people are qualified enough to go to the moon?
Jeremy Hansen has been training since 2009 but what about all the other ppl who have been training for like 10 years or more? is it just a bunch of nepotism?
Jeremy Hansen is gonna crush it as commander 
Christina Koch is like, what even is her superpower? holding records left and right 
This team is READY to take on the moon! 
. This crew is like, the ultimate squad goals 
The thing that bothers me about this whole lunar thing is it's gonna be super expensive 
. What are we really gaining from sending people to the moon again? 
... it's like, aren't they worried about their health at all? 
. Reid Wiseman as commander is a great choice - he's got the experience and leadership skills to get this mission off on the right foot. And Jeremy Hansen being a fighter pilot too? That's some serious skillz 
. Four astronauts going to the moon again? That's cool and all, but where were they when we had Armstrong and Collins doing their thing? 
I'm not saying these new astronauts aren't talented or anything, it's just that I remember when space travel was a real challenge back in the day... now it seems like anyone can just strap themselves to a rocket and blast off 
. I mean, four astronauts from different backgrounds is cool and all, but let's be real, we've been hearing about NASA's plans to return humans to the moon for years now, and nothing ever seems to happen. What makes me think that this time is any different? And don't even get me started on the idea of establishing a permanent lunar outpost - it sounds like just another fancy way of saying "we want to spend billions of dollars on a new space project". I'm not convinced that this mission is more than just a feel-good PR stunt 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to see Christina Koch break records for longest single spaceflight? 