NASA has selected four astronauts for its first crewed moon mission in over 50 years. The team, comprising Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency, is set to embark on a historic journey aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft.
The crew, which includes men and women, marks a significant milestone in the Artemis program, aimed at establishing a permanent lunar outpost and paving the way for humans to reach Mars. The team will launch on a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida around November 2024.
Commander Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, has previously flown to space and holds a spot as chief of the astronaut office at NASA. He is joined by Victor Glover, who piloted the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and spent six months aboard the International Space Station. Christina Koch, a veteran of six spacewalks and holder of the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will also be part of the mission.
Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency is set to become the first Canadian astronaut to venture into deep space. He was selected by NASA as part of their astronaut training program in 2009.
The Artemis II mission aims to send the crew on a 10-day journey around the moon, with the possibility of traveling further than any human has ever gone before. Upon completion, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean. The success of this mission is seen as a crucial step towards NASA's long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence in space.
The selection process was shrouded in secrecy, with only Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, declining to provide details on how the team was chosen. However, she emphasized the diversity and expertise of the selected crew members, who have undergone rigorous training and are equipped to tackle the challenges of the mission.
An interview with the four astronauts will air on CNN This Morning on Tuesday, providing a glimpse into their experiences and preparations for this monumental journey.
The crew, which includes men and women, marks a significant milestone in the Artemis program, aimed at establishing a permanent lunar outpost and paving the way for humans to reach Mars. The team will launch on a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida around November 2024.
Commander Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, has previously flown to space and holds a spot as chief of the astronaut office at NASA. He is joined by Victor Glover, who piloted the second crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and spent six months aboard the International Space Station. Christina Koch, a veteran of six spacewalks and holder of the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will also be part of the mission.
Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency is set to become the first Canadian astronaut to venture into deep space. He was selected by NASA as part of their astronaut training program in 2009.
The Artemis II mission aims to send the crew on a 10-day journey around the moon, with the possibility of traveling further than any human has ever gone before. Upon completion, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean. The success of this mission is seen as a crucial step towards NASA's long-term goal of establishing a sustainable presence in space.
The selection process was shrouded in secrecy, with only Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, declining to provide details on how the team was chosen. However, she emphasized the diversity and expertise of the selected crew members, who have undergone rigorous training and are equipped to tackle the challenges of the mission.
An interview with the four astronauts will air on CNN This Morning on Tuesday, providing a glimpse into their experiences and preparations for this monumental journey.
but like, have you thought about the risks involved? sending humans to the moon is no joke, we're talking extreme radiation exposure, isolation, and who knows what else. i get that it's a huge step forward for space exploration, but let's not forget that our astronauts are basically human guinea pigs 
. still though, I'm super stoked to see some amazing people like Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch on board - they're literally the best of the best! and Jeremy Hansen from Canada is going to be a total game changer in deep space exploration 
can't wait for that interview with CNN This Morning, gotta get all the deets 
. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all so talented and diverse - I love that they got a mix of experience and skills for the job 
. and can you believe it's gonna be around 10 days on the moon? that's some serious space travel time 
️. I'm curious to see how this mission plays out, especially with the Artemis program aiming for Mars next 
. CNN This Morning is gonna have an awesome interview with the crew - gotta watch that! 
The thing is, when are they gonna tell us what's really going on behind those closed doors? 
Like, how did they even choose these four people out of millions of applicants? It's just so secretive. And now they're expecting us to believe that this whole Artemis program is just about establishing a permanent lunar outpost and paving the way for Mars? 
Can you believe we're actually getting back to the moon?! It's crazy to think about how far space travel has come since those historic Apollo missions back in the day. I'm so hyped to see these four awesome astronauts embark on this mission – they've got the skills, expertise, and experience to make history! 
Christina Koch is giving me all the girl power vibes with her record-breaking spaceflight, while Jeremy Hansen's Canadian pride is totally inspiring 
. Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover bring some serious military and SpaceX credentials to the table 
I mean, Commander Reid Wiseman has some serious space cred under his belt, having flown to space before and all. And Christina Koch is a total rockstar with those 6 spacewalks under her belt! 
Jeremy Hansen's gonna be the first Canadian in deep space - yaaas, Canada! 
. And Jeremy Hansen becoming the first Canadian in deep space? Proud moment for our friends up north 
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omg just heard about the new moon crew 
. NASA's Artemis II mission is so historic 
and this crew is literally the best team ever 
. Can't wait for their CNN interview next tuesday 
!
! It's crazy to think about the history that's being made here - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all super talented individuals who've put in the hard work to get this mission off the ground. I'm also loving the diversity of the crew, it's awesome to see women and men from different countries working together towards a common goal 