NASA’s Artemis II mission is about to become re-write history. After all, an exceptionally diverse crew of strong and storied astronauts will soon return to lead the world back to the Moon. Reid Wiseman, an experienced astronaut and veteran of the Commercial Crew Program, will command this mission. It will open the door to the first human expeditions to Mars. Wiseman, who has faced personal challenges as a widowed parent, views this mission as both a professional endeavor and an opportunity to inspire future generations.
For Reid Wiseman, the mission commander, this marks the beginning of a very important career in spaceflight. He’s logged eight months of space time aboard the International Space Station and has piloted or commanded several high-profile missions. Wiseman describes being an only parent as his “greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase” of his life. He hopes that Artemis II will be remembered as a “tiny step in having humans on Mars and a sustained presence on the Moon.”
Joining Wiseman on this historic journey is Victor Glover, known by his call sign “IKE,” which stands for “I Know Everything.” Glover’s academic credentials are hard to top. He has three master’s degrees in flight test engineering, systems engineering and military operational art and science. He is going to be the first Black person to go to the Moon. Glover previously served as the pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station.
The crew will include Canadian Jeremy Hansen. He will be the first non-American astronaut to go to the Moon and come back. Hansen’s impressive bio as a former fighter pilot, physicist, and aquanaut. He joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009 and became the first Canadian to lead astronaut training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. He’s convinced that the Moon represents hope and progress in dark times. This belief, in turn, guides his unusual – but refreshing – take on why this mission matters.
We’re thrilled to have Christina Koch join the team. In addition, she would become the first woman to travel to the Moon! Koch discovered her motivation to become an astronaut when she first viewed this famous photo of Earth. Bill Anders shot that incredible photo on the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. Her hope is that by flying on Artemis II, she’ll help inspire a new generation to explore space. She hopes to create some optimism about the future through this engagement.
Glover emphasizes the importance of exploration, stating, “Pushing ourselves to explore is core to who we are.” He reflects on humanity’s intrinsic desire to understand its place in the Universe: “It is in our nature. We go out to explore, to learn where we are, why we are, understanding the big questions about our place in the Universe.”
As they prepare for their journey, the astronauts draw inspiration from historical figures like John F. Kennedy, who famously declared, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” As the Artemis II crew prepares for their mission, this commitment to facing challenges head on rings true with them.
Hansen recalls how past lunar missions captured public imagination during times of global strife: “When they flew around the Moon just before Christmas in 1968 there was a lot going on in the world…and I think we can all resonate with that today.” His touching reflections underscore the importance of space exploration in bringing the world together during times of crisis.
Let’s take a closer look at some of those missions, starting with the Artemis II return to the Moon. It opens the door to the administration’s next major exploration effort. Wiseman and his crew are determined to foster that same hope and resilience in others through their journey. Koch asserts that seeing Earth from space changed her perspective profoundly: “The fact that it was a human behind that lens made that picture so much more profound and changed the way we thought of our own home.”
The upcoming Artemis II crewed mission will continue to push our boundaries and expand the human presence beyond our home planet. And it definitely serves as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars and beyond. As Neil Armstrong famously stated, “One small step for Man, one giant leap for mankind.” The Artemis II crew personify this spirit of exploration, wonder, and discovery.