Artemis 2 Crew: Meet the Astronauts Returning to the Moon

The four astronauts chosen for the Artemis 2 mission are poised to become the first humans to venture to the Moon in more than 50 years, with a planned launch date of no earlier than April 1, 2026.

The mission, a crewed lunar flyby, will test the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft with a team comprised of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The 10-day journey will not include a landing, but will carry the crew in a loop around the Moon and back to Earth.

This mission marks a significant departure from the Apollo era, bringing with it a new generation of explorers and breaking barriers in space travel. Glover will become the first person of color to travel to the Moon, Koch the first woman, and Hansen the first non-U.S. Citizen to do so.

Reid Wiseman: Commander with a Personal Mission

At 50 years old, Reid Wiseman will lead the Artemis 2 mission as commander. A veteran of the U.S. Navy with a 27-year career, Wiseman joined NASA in 2009. He previously spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station in 2014 and later served as NASA’s chief of the astronaut office. Wiseman has spoken openly about the challenges of preparing for this mission while raising his two teenage daughters after the loss of his wife to cancer in 2020. He emphasized the importance of transparency with his daughters regarding the risks inherent in space travel, ensuring they knew the location of his will and trust documents.

Victor Glover: Breaking Barriers as Pilot

Victor Glover, 49, a Navy veteran and father of four, will serve as the pilot of the Orion spacecraft. Selected by NASA in 2013 while working as a legislative advisor in the U.S. Senate, Glover initially dreamed of a career in law enforcement, inspired by his father. However, witnessing a Space Shuttle launch sparked a new ambition. He will be the first Black man to travel to the Moon, a milestone he acknowledged as building upon the legacy of pioneers like Guion Bluford, the first African American in space in 1983. Glover previously participated in a long-duration mission to the International Space Station in 2020.

Christina Koch: Charting New Territory for Women in Space

Christina Koch, 47, will become the first woman to participate in a lunar mission. Chosen by NASA in 2013, Koch brings a diverse background as an engineer and experienced explorer, having worked in extreme environments such as Antarctica. She has described being inspired by the “Earthrise” photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission, which hung in her childhood bedroom. Koch already holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with 328 days in space, and participated in the first all-female spacewalk alongside Jessica Meir.

Jeremy Hansen: Canada’s Pioneer in Lunar Orbit

Jeremy Hansen, 50, of the Canadian Space Agency, will be the first non-American to fly around the Moon as a mission specialist. A former fighter pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Hansen joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009. He served as a liaison between Earth and the International Space Station and later trained a new class of astronauts. Hansen has recounted being captivated by a photograph of Neil Armstrong on the Moon as a child, igniting his passion for space exploration. Artemis 2 will be his first spaceflight, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to conclude with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, with recovery operations to be conducted by the U.S. Navy using a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock.