NASA has chosen four astronauts for its historic first crewed mission to the moon in five decades. The quartet, set to embark on a decade-long journey that will pave the way for humans to set foot on Mars, include NASA's Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover alongside Christina Koch of the US space agency and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency.
Wiseman, 47, is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who has spent time in space before. He was first selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009 and served as chief of the astronaut office. Wiseman will lead the Artemis II mission as commander, marking his second trip to space after his 2014 Soyuz rocket launch.
Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot who completed NASA's astronaut training program in 2009. This Canadian astronaut has never ventured into deep space but will be the first of his kind to do so on Artemis II.
Glover, 46, was a part of SpaceX's Crew-1 mission and spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station. A naval aviator by profession, he logged over 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft.
Christina Koch, 44, is an accomplished astronaut with six spacewalks under her belt. The longest single spaceflight by a woman was hers, lasting 328 days. As an engineer and scientist, she helped develop scientific instruments for various NASA missions.
The crew will embark on the Artemis II mission in November 2024 aboard the Orion spacecraft. The 10-day journey is expected to take them out of Earth's orbit, further than any human has traveled before, though the exact distance remains unknown.
Artemis II marks a historic milestone in NASA's quest to return humans to the moon and eventually establish a permanent lunar outpost. After circling the moon, they will land back on Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
This mission is not just about advancing space technology but also about celebrating diversity among astronauts selected for this prestigious endeavor. According to Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, the crew members have been chosen with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Their journey sets the stage for Artemis III, a more ambitious mission scheduled for 2025 or later that will see humans touch down on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.
Wiseman, 47, is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who has spent time in space before. He was first selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009 and served as chief of the astronaut office. Wiseman will lead the Artemis II mission as commander, marking his second trip to space after his 2014 Soyuz rocket launch.
Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot who completed NASA's astronaut training program in 2009. This Canadian astronaut has never ventured into deep space but will be the first of his kind to do so on Artemis II.
Glover, 46, was a part of SpaceX's Crew-1 mission and spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station. A naval aviator by profession, he logged over 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft.
Christina Koch, 44, is an accomplished astronaut with six spacewalks under her belt. The longest single spaceflight by a woman was hers, lasting 328 days. As an engineer and scientist, she helped develop scientific instruments for various NASA missions.
The crew will embark on the Artemis II mission in November 2024 aboard the Orion spacecraft. The 10-day journey is expected to take them out of Earth's orbit, further than any human has traveled before, though the exact distance remains unknown.
Artemis II marks a historic milestone in NASA's quest to return humans to the moon and eventually establish a permanent lunar outpost. After circling the moon, they will land back on Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
This mission is not just about advancing space technology but also about celebrating diversity among astronauts selected for this prestigious endeavor. According to Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, the crew members have been chosen with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Their journey sets the stage for Artemis III, a more ambitious mission scheduled for 2025 or later that will see humans touch down on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.
! It's awesome they're choosin' people with all sorts of backgrounds and experience for this historic mission 
. I mean, Reid Wiseman is a total rockstar from his naval aviator days to now leadin' the Artemis II crew 
. And Jeremy Hansen, bein' a fighter pilot and all, is gonna crush it on the Artemis II too 
. Christina Koch is literally the OG spacewoman, with six spacewalks under her belt and breakin' records left and right 
. Glover's SpaceX experience will definitely bring some fresh perspectives to the table 
. I'm hyped for this mission and can't wait to see what these astronauts achieve 
.
they got some old guys in this crew lol 
like Reid and Jeremy are both 47 
how's space travel gonna affect their age? 
anyway I think it's cool that they're trying to do this again 
still can't believe people don't want to live on the moon or go to Mars 
man oh man I'm hyped about this crew they got selected for Artemis II it's like we're finally getting back to the moon and then maybe even Mars lol! I love that Christina Koch is on board she's like a total space legend and Reid Wiseman too he's been in space before so that's cool. And Jeremy Hansen from Canada is like a hero or something, first Canadian in deep space 
. Can't wait to see what they learn and experience on this 10-day journey it's gonna be lit! 
. I mean, Reid Wiseman leading the team is amazing, he's got experience and knows what he's doing 
. I'm hyped for this mission and the progress it's gonna make towards establishing a permanent lunar outpost 
. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all so talented in their respective fields - naval aviator, test pilot, engineer, scientist, and fighter pilot 
.