NASA has announced the four astronauts who will helm the first crewed moon mission in five decades, Artemis II. The quartet includes Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot; Victor Glover, a 46-year-old naval aviator with experience on the International Space Station; Christina Koch, a veteran of six spacewalks and the record holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman; and Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian astronaut who will become the first Canadian to travel to deep space.
Wiseman, 47, is set to serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. He has previously flown on the International Space Station and served as chief of the astronaut office before stepping down in November 2022. His extensive experience and leadership skills make him an ideal candidate for this historic mission.
Glover, also 46, was part of the SpaceX Crew-1 team that launched to the International Space Station in November 2020. He spent nearly six months aboard the station, completing multiple spacewalks and conducting various scientific experiments.
Koch, 44, is a seasoned astronaut with six spacewalks under her belt and the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with a total of 328 days in space. She has also worked as an engineer on multiple NASA missions, including developing scientific instruments for the agency's spacecraft.
Hansen, 47, is a fighter pilot who was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009. He will become the first Canadian to travel to deep space, marking a significant milestone in Canada's space program.
The Artemis II mission is set to launch on November 2024 and will take off atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will embark on a 10-day journey, traveling beyond the moon for the first time in history. After circling the moon, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis program aims to establish a permanent lunar outpost, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. NASA has been working towards this goal for over a decade, with the Artemis II mission marking a major step forward in the agency's ambitious plans.
When asked about the selection process, Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, emphasized the diversity of the crew, which includes men and women from different backgrounds. "We have requirements different than we did... just had test pilots on our inaugural missions," she said.
The four astronauts will be featured in an interview on CNN's "This Morning" next Tuesday, marking a special moment for these brave individuals as they prepare to embark on this historic journey.
Wiseman, 47, is set to serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. He has previously flown on the International Space Station and served as chief of the astronaut office before stepping down in November 2022. His extensive experience and leadership skills make him an ideal candidate for this historic mission.
Glover, also 46, was part of the SpaceX Crew-1 team that launched to the International Space Station in November 2020. He spent nearly six months aboard the station, completing multiple spacewalks and conducting various scientific experiments.
Koch, 44, is a seasoned astronaut with six spacewalks under her belt and the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, with a total of 328 days in space. She has also worked as an engineer on multiple NASA missions, including developing scientific instruments for the agency's spacecraft.
Hansen, 47, is a fighter pilot who was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009. He will become the first Canadian to travel to deep space, marking a significant milestone in Canada's space program.
The Artemis II mission is set to launch on November 2024 and will take off atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The crew will embark on a 10-day journey, traveling beyond the moon for the first time in history. After circling the moon, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis program aims to establish a permanent lunar outpost, paving the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. NASA has been working towards this goal for over a decade, with the Artemis II mission marking a major step forward in the agency's ambitious plans.
When asked about the selection process, Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, emphasized the diversity of the crew, which includes men and women from different backgrounds. "We have requirements different than we did... just had test pilots on our inaugural missions," she said.
The four astronauts will be featured in an interview on CNN's "This Morning" next Tuesday, marking a special moment for these brave individuals as they prepare to embark on this historic journey.