Meet the Trailblazing Astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II

NASA’s Artemis II mission crew (left to right): NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. Credit: NASA

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency have announced the four astronauts selected for Artemis II, the first crewed mission in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The 10-day flight test will launch on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, proving the life support systems and capabilities needed for human deep space missions. Artemis II sets the stage for landing the first woman and the first black person on the Moon, as well as furthering human exploration of Mars.

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four astronauts who will orbit the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The agencies unveiled the crew members Monday during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“The Artemis II crew represents the thousands of people who work tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity’s crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen each have their own story, but together they represent our belief: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of sailors and star dreamers – the Artemis Generation.”

Crew assignments are as follows: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. They will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of flight test demonstrations.

Four astronauts have been selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. Artemis II will be NASA’s first manned flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon to verify today’s human capabilities to explore deep space and pave the way for long-term exploration and science on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA

The roughly 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, test the Orion spacecraft’s life support systems, and prove the skills and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.

“We are returning to the Moon and Canada is at the center of this exciting journey,” said the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency. “Thanks to our long-standing collaboration with NASA, a Canadian astronaut will fly on this historic mission. On behalf of all Canadians, I want to congratulate Jeremy for being at the forefront of one of the most ambitious human endeavors ever undertaken. Canada’s participation in the Artemis program is not only a defining chapter in our history in space, but also a testament to the close friendship and partnership between our two nations.”

The flight, set to build on the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission completed in December, will set the stage for the first woman and first black person on the moon through the Artemis program, paving the way for the future for long-term human exploration missions. to the Moon, and eventually to Mars. This is the agency’s approach to exploring the Moon on Mars.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the crew of Artemis II – will be the first humans to fly near the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, the first person of color and the first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the good of all,” said NASA Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche “This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discovery, commercial, industrial and academic partnerships and the Artemis Generation.”

NASA and the CSA (Canadian Space Agency) announced, during an event on Monday, April 3, from NASA Johnson Space Center’s Ellington Field in Houston, the four astronauts who will travel around the Moon on the Artemis II mission. The crew, consisting of NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman (commander), NASA astronaut Victor Glover (pilot), NASA astronaut Christina Hammoch Koch (mission specialist), and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen (mission specialist of the mission), will be the first to demonstrate NASA’s human foundation. deep space capabilities: the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the ground systems needed to launch them. Credit: NASA

Meet the Artemis II astronauts

This will be Wiseman’s second trip to space, having previously served as flight engineer aboard the International Station for Expedition 41 from May to November 2014. Wiseman has logged more than 165 days in space, including almost 13 hours as the main spacewalker during two trips outside the orbital complex. Prior to his assignment, Wiseman served as chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 to November 2022.

The mission will be the second space flight for Glover, who previously served as a pilot on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1, which landed on May 2, 2021, after 168 days in space. As a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 64, he contributed to scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and participated in four spacewalks.

Koch will also make her second spaceflight on the Artemis II mission. She served as a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expeditions 59, 60 and 61. Koch set a record for the longest solo space flight by a woman with a total of 328 days in space and participated in the first spacewalks all-female cosmic.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen were announced Monday, April 3 as the four astronauts who will travel around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s way to create a long time. long-term presence on the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. Crew assignments are as follows: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Koch, Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. Credit: James Blair/NASA

Representing Canada, Hansen is making his first space flight. A colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and former fighter pilot, Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science in space science from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and a Master of Science in physics from the same institution in 2000, with research focus. in wide field of view satellite tracking. He was one of two recruits selected by CSA in May 2009 through the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign and has served as Capcom at NASA’s Johnson Mission Control Center and, in 2017, became the first Canadian entrusted with leading a class of NASA astronauts. leading the training of astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.

“I couldn’t be more proud that these four brave men will begin our journeys to the Moon and beyond,” said NASA Flight Operations Director Norm Knight Johnson. “They represent exactly what an astronaut corps should be: a mix of highly skilled and capable individuals with the skills and determination to take on any challenge as a team. The Artemis II mission will be challenging and we will test our limits as we prepare to put the next astronauts on the Moon. With Reid, Victor, Christina and Jeremy at the helm, I have no doubt we are ready to take on any challenge that comes our way.”

Through the Artemis missions, NASA will use innovative technology to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we’ll use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.