Meet the lead astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II

Mars.

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

“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working 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 has their own story, but, together, they represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation.”

The 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 demonstrations during the flight test.

Four astronauts have been selected for NASA’s Artemis 2 mission: Commander Reed Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch of NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency. Artemis II will be NASA’s first manned flight test of a Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon to validate the capabilities of today’s humans for deep space exploration and pave the way for long-term exploration and science on the lunar surface. Credit: NASA

It will begin approximately 10 days of Artemis II flight testing on the agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, validate life support systems for the Orion spacecraft, and validate the capabilities and technologies needed for humans to live and operate in deep space.

We will return to the moon and Canada is at the heart of this exciting journey,” said the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister Responsible for the Canadian Space Agency. “Thanks to our longstanding collaboration with NASA, a Canadian astronaut will fly 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. Canada’s participation in the Artemis program is not only a defining chapter in our history in space, but also a testament to the friendship and close partnership between our two countries.”

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

For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the crew of Artemis 2 – will be the first to fly to the circumference of the Moon. “The crew includes the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and the four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all,” said NASA Administrator Vanessa Witchey. “This mission paves the way for the expansion of human exploration of deep space and presents new opportunities for scientific discovery, commercial, industrial and academic partnerships, and the Artemis generation.”

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

Meet the Artemis II astronauts

This will be Weizmann’s second trip to space, as he previously served as a flight engineer aboard the International Station for Expedition 41 from May through November 2014. Weizmann has logged more than 165 days in space, including nearly 13 hours as a pilot engineer at space during two excursions outside the orbital complex. Prior to being assigned to his mission, Weisman served as Chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 through November 2022.

The mission will be the second spaceflight for Glover, who previously worked as a NASA pilot[{” attribute=””>SpaceX Crew-1, which landed 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 also will be making her second flight into space on the Artemis II mission. She served as flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 59, 60, and 61. Koch set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with a total of 328 days in space and participated in the first all-female spacewalks.

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 venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The 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 flight to space. A colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and former fighter pilot, Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science in space science from Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and a Master of Science in physics from the same institution in 2000, with a research focus on 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 in NASA’s Mission Control Center at Johnson and, in 2017, became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class, leading the training of astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.

“I could not be prouder that these brave four will kickstart our journeys to the Moon and beyond,” said Director of Flight Operations Norm Knight, NASA Johnson. “They represent exactly what an astronaut corps should be: a mix of highly capable and accomplished individuals with the skills and determination to take on any trial as a team. The Artemis II mission will be challenging, and we’ll test our limits as we prepare to put future astronauts on the Moon. With Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy at the controls, I have no doubt we’re ready to face every challenge that comes our way.”

Through Artemis missions, NASA will use innovative technologies 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 will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.