NASA's Orion Spacecraft Set for Historic First Crewed Moon Mission in Over Five Decades
For the first time since the Apollo program ended in 1972, NASA is gearing up to launch a crewed mission to the moon. The Artemis II mission, scheduled for November 2024, will feature a quartet of astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the mission. He is also one of the most experienced astronauts on the team, having completed a 165-day stint on the International Space Station in 2014. A veteran of six spacewalks, Wiseman holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
Glover, a 46-year-old naval aviator who returned to Earth from his first spaceflight in 2021 after piloting the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, will be a vital member of the team. The Canadian-born astronaut has logged over 3,000 hours in more than 40 aircraft and completed test pilot training with the US Air Force.
Koch, a veteran engineer who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will be part of the Artemis II mission. A six-time spacewalk specialist, Koch is an expert in scientific instruments for NASA missions and has spent time at the South Pole, which will likely aid her on the moon mission.
Hansen, a 47-year-old fighter pilot from Canada, will make history as the first Canadian to travel to deep space. The astronaut was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for training in 2009 and is one of only four active Canadian astronauts.
The crew will embark on a 10-day journey aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will see the astronauts travel beyond the moon, potentially further than any human has traveled in history, although the exact distance is yet to be determined.
The Artemis II mission marks the beginning of a new era for space exploration. If all goes to plan, NASA's plans are to send the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface by 2025, but delays are expected due to ongoing development of technologies required for the mission, including spacesuits and a lunar lander.
The diversity of the Artemis II crew has been emphasized by Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The team includes men and women from different backgrounds and experience levels, paving the way for future generations of space explorers.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Koch revealed her reaction to receiving the news that she was part of the Artemis II mission. "It truly is an honor," she said. "It's an honor — not to get myself in space — but because it's amazing to be a part of this team that's going back to the moon and on to Mars."
For the first time since the Apollo program ended in 1972, NASA is gearing up to launch a crewed mission to the moon. The Artemis II mission, scheduled for November 2024, will feature a quartet of astronauts: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as commander of the mission. He is also one of the most experienced astronauts on the team, having completed a 165-day stint on the International Space Station in 2014. A veteran of six spacewalks, Wiseman holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman.
Glover, a 46-year-old naval aviator who returned to Earth from his first spaceflight in 2021 after piloting the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft, will be a vital member of the team. The Canadian-born astronaut has logged over 3,000 hours in more than 40 aircraft and completed test pilot training with the US Air Force.
Koch, a veteran engineer who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will be part of the Artemis II mission. A six-time spacewalk specialist, Koch is an expert in scientific instruments for NASA missions and has spent time at the South Pole, which will likely aid her on the moon mission.
Hansen, a 47-year-old fighter pilot from Canada, will make history as the first Canadian to travel to deep space. The astronaut was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for training in 2009 and is one of only four active Canadian astronauts.
The crew will embark on a 10-day journey aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will see the astronauts travel beyond the moon, potentially further than any human has traveled in history, although the exact distance is yet to be determined.
The Artemis II mission marks the beginning of a new era for space exploration. If all goes to plan, NASA's plans are to send the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface by 2025, but delays are expected due to ongoing development of technologies required for the mission, including spacesuits and a lunar lander.
The diversity of the Artemis II crew has been emphasized by Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The team includes men and women from different backgrounds and experience levels, paving the way for future generations of space explorers.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Koch revealed her reaction to receiving the news that she was part of the Artemis II mission. "It truly is an honor," she said. "It's an honor — not to get myself in space — but because it's amazing to be a part of this team that's going back to the moon and on to Mars."
! The fact that NASA's got a diverse crew with experienced astronauts like Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch is super exciting. I mean, Koch breaking records left and right is pretty cool 
. And Jeremy Hansen being the first Canadian in deep space is awesome too 
! 
. Of course, delays are expected due to tech development and all that jazz, but still...the future of space exploration is looking bright! 
seriously though, it's about time we got some actual progress on space exploration. I mean, 5 decades since the last crewed mission is a looong time 
but at least they're trying now. and yay diversity, let's get some more women and POC in space ASAP 
can't wait to see what kinda shenanigans those astronauts get up to on the moon 
. But anyway, space exploration is so cool, but have you ever noticed how much we take our planet for granted? Like, have you seen that new documentary series about the Great Barrier Reef? It's like, whoa...the damage we're doing to our own home is insane 
. I'm just saying, let's hope the Artemis II crew brings back some awesome moon rocks or something and we can all learn from their adventures 
I'm low-key hyped for this crewed moon mission, you know? It's like, after all these years we're finally getting another shot at exploring our own lunar backyard. The fact that they've got a diverse crew is a big deal too - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all super accomplished in their own right. I love that Koch holds the record for longest single spaceflight by a woman, and it's even more awesome that she'll be on this mission. Plus, having a Canadian on board makes me excited to think about how our nations can collaborate in space exploration 
omg can u believe its been over 50 yrs since we last sent ppl to the moon?! 
. And Jeremy's gonna be the first canadian in deep space 
