The US Space Agency has picked a diverse quartet of astronauts for its historic mission to the moon in five decades. The crew members, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, along with Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen from Canada's space agency, are set to begin training for their Artemis II lunar flyby.
Wiseman, 47, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as the commander of the mission. He has already completed one prior spaceflight on a Russian Soyuz rocket in 2014 and was part of the team that oversaw NASA's astronaut office before stepping down in November 2022. Wiseman's extensive experience makes him an ideal candidate for this historic journey.
Glover, 46, is another seasoned aviator who has flown to space twice. He spent nearly six months on the International Space Station during his first mission and piloted SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft during its second crewed flight in 2021. The astronaut expressed his excitement about the Artemis II mission, stating that it's "so much more than just four names" – it marks a significant step towards sending humans to Mars.
Christina Koch, 44, is a veteran of six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with over 328 days spent in space. As an electrical engineer, Koch has also contributed to developing scientific instruments for multiple NASA missions.
Jeremy Hansen, a 47-year-old fighter pilot from Canada's Space Agency, will become the first Canadian astronaut to travel to deep space. The crew is expected to embark on their journey in November 2024 and will spend around 10 days circling the moon before returning to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II mission marks the first time humans have visited the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. This historic milestone paves the way for future missions, including the Artemis III mission, which aims to put the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. While the exact launch date is still uncertain due to ongoing development of necessary technologies, NASA's target date for this mission remains 2025.
NASA's director of the Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche, emphasized the diversity of the crew selected for this historic mission. She stated that they all possess "the right stuff" and meet new requirements different from those set by previous test pilot-only crews.
The four astronauts will participate in an interview on CNN This Morning on Tuesday at 6 am ET, where they will share their experiences and thoughts about joining this extraordinary crew.
Wiseman, 47, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will serve as the commander of the mission. He has already completed one prior spaceflight on a Russian Soyuz rocket in 2014 and was part of the team that oversaw NASA's astronaut office before stepping down in November 2022. Wiseman's extensive experience makes him an ideal candidate for this historic journey.
Glover, 46, is another seasoned aviator who has flown to space twice. He spent nearly six months on the International Space Station during his first mission and piloted SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft during its second crewed flight in 2021. The astronaut expressed his excitement about the Artemis II mission, stating that it's "so much more than just four names" – it marks a significant step towards sending humans to Mars.
Christina Koch, 44, is a veteran of six spacewalks, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with over 328 days spent in space. As an electrical engineer, Koch has also contributed to developing scientific instruments for multiple NASA missions.
Jeremy Hansen, a 47-year-old fighter pilot from Canada's Space Agency, will become the first Canadian astronaut to travel to deep space. The crew is expected to embark on their journey in November 2024 and will spend around 10 days circling the moon before returning to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The Artemis II mission marks the first time humans have visited the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. This historic milestone paves the way for future missions, including the Artemis III mission, which aims to put the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface. While the exact launch date is still uncertain due to ongoing development of necessary technologies, NASA's target date for this mission remains 2025.
NASA's director of the Johnson Space Center, Vanessa Wyche, emphasized the diversity of the crew selected for this historic mission. She stated that they all possess "the right stuff" and meet new requirements different from those set by previous test pilot-only crews.
The four astronauts will participate in an interview on CNN This Morning on Tuesday at 6 am ET, where they will share their experiences and thoughts about joining this extraordinary crew.
thinkin' about the diversity of this crew is really inspirin' you know? 
they got people from different backgrounds, ages, and experience levels all comin' together to achieve somethin' huge 
. it's like they say, 'many hands make light work' 
. but what I think is even more interesting is how this crew reflects the changing landscape of space exploration 
. we're seein' a shift from just having test pilots on board to havin' people with different skill sets and expertise 
. it's like NASA is sayin', 'hey, we need you all, not just your flyin' skills' 
. anyway, I'm hyped for this mission and the impact it's gonna have on future space travel 
. But what I think is even more amazing is how this mission sets the stage for future missions, including sending a woman and person of color to the lunar surface - that's like, totally a nod to our past struggles but forward-thinking 
about how cool it is that we're gettin back to the moon after all these years... i mean, 50 yrs to be exact! 
the fact that they've picked a diverse crew is really awesome, too - gotta love seein ppl from different backgrounds and countries comin together for this historic mission 
I mean, Reid Wiseman is an actual naval aviator and test pilot lol what kind of crazy training does he need to do for this mission?! 
Jeremy Hansen becoming the first Canadian astronaut in deep space is so cool too I hope they have some epic space selfies to share afterwards 
! A diverse crew of four is exactly what we need to push humanity forward in space exploration. Reid Wiseman's naval aviator background is super cool, and Christina Koch's record-breaking spaceflight is insane 
Jeremy Hansen's first deep space journey will be a major milestone for Canada too 
astronaut Reid Wiseman is gonna lead the mission to the moon & I'm hyped 
, bringing together experts from different backgrounds for an epic journey 
, this is all just a setup for something BIG 
. They gotta test the waters first, make sure everything is just right before they send us all off on some intergalactic adventure 
. And what about the "right stuff" that NASA's director Wyche keeps talking about? I bet it's code for something more sinister 
. And have you noticed how the media's been hawking this Artemis II mission like it's the biggest deal ever since 2001 
? Something fishy is going on here, mark my words 
.
. And let's not forget Jeremy Hansen, who'll be Canada's first astronaut to venture into deep space 
.
. The potential for diversity in space exploration is vast, with a growing global interest in STEM education and space travel 
.
Jeremy Hansen is like, Canadian pride right there! Canada's really stepping up their space game 
. And can we talk about Christina Koch? Six spacewalks and a record-breaking 328 days in space? 
. Can't wait for them to share their thoughts on CNN This Morning! 
And with Christina Koch on board, the fact that there's still so much to learn about female astronauts is kinda cool to watch unfold.
. Bring it on!