Artemis 2 Crew: Meet the Astronauts Returning to the Moon

The Artemis 2 mission, slated to launch as early as April 1, 2025, will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon – the first crewed lunar flyby in more than half a century. This mission isn’t about landing; it’s a rigorous test flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, paving the way for future lunar surface missions and representing a significant shift in the demographics of space exploration. The crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – embodies a new era, including the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to participate in such a mission.

A Commander’s Journey: Reid Wiseman

Reid Wiseman, 50, will lead the Artemis 2 mission as commander. His path to NASA wasn’t a lifelong ambition, he revealed in a NASA podcast. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Wiseman spent 27 years in the U.S. Navy before joining NASA in 2009. He became a Naval Aviator in 1999 and deployed twice to the Middle East as a fighter pilot. His first trip to space came in 2014, with a 165-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). He later served as NASA’s Chief of the Astronaut Office, a role that prepared him for the leadership demands of Artemis 2. NASA’s profile of Wiseman details his extensive experience.

Wiseman’s personal life has been marked by both triumph and tragedy. He lost his wife to cancer in 2020, and subsequently raised his two teenage daughters on his own. He spoke candidly about preparing them for the inherent risks of his career, ensuring they knew the location of his will and trust documents. This transparency, he explained, is simply “a part of this life.”

Breaking Barriers: Victor Glover

Victor Glover, 49, a Navy veteran and father of four, will serve as the pilot of the Orion spacecraft. Glover’s journey to NASA began after working as a legislative advisor in the U.S. Senate, following his selection by NASA in 2013. His early aspirations leaned towards law enforcement, inspired by his father’s career as a police officer. Although, witnessing a Space Shuttle launch ignited a different ambition: “I thought, ‘I really want to drive one of those,’” he recalled, admitting his initial naiveté about the roles involved. Space.com’s profile of Glover provides further details on his background.

Glover is poised to make history as the first Black man – and the first person of color – to travel to the Moon. This milestone builds upon the legacy of pioneers like Guion Bluford, the first African American in space in 1983, whom Glover acknowledged as paving the way for his own journey. In 2020, Glover became the first African American to participate in a long-duration mission to the ISS.

A Record-Breaking Mission Specialist: Christina Koch

Christina Koch, 47, an electrical engineer and seasoned explorer, will become the first woman to participate in a lunar mission. Selected by NASA in 2013, Koch’s background is remarkably diverse. She has worked in extreme environments, including Antarctica, and holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman – a remarkable 328 days. She as well participated in the first all-female spacewalk alongside Jessica Meir. Space Informer’s Artemis 2 crew page highlights Koch’s achievements.

Koch’s childhood bedroom featured a poster of the iconic “Earthrise” photograph taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, a visual reminder of the possibilities beyond Earth. She embodies a personal motto of embracing fear: “I always say to people, do what scares you,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of following one’s own advice.

International Collaboration: Jeremy Hansen

Rounding out the crew is Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, 50, who will become the first non-American to fly around the Moon. Hansen’s career began as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) recruited him in 2009, and he subsequently served as a liaison between Earth and the ISS, and later trained a new class of astronauts. His childhood fascination with space was sparked by a photograph of Neil Armstrong on the Moon, a moment that ignited his lifelong dream.

This mission marks Hansen’s first journey away from Earth, fulfilling a dream he’s held since childhood. His inclusion underscores the international collaboration central to the Artemis program, demonstrating a shared commitment to space exploration.

The Artemis 2 Mission: A Test Flight for Deep Space Exploration

The Artemis 2 mission is not a landing mission. Instead, it’s designed as a comprehensive test flight of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. The 10-day journey will capture the crew on a loop around the Moon, verifying the spacecraft’s systems and capabilities in the environment of deep space. Here’s a crucial step towards establishing long-term lunar science and exploration capabilities, as outlined by NASA’s Artemis program. The mission will confirm that all of Orion’s systems operate as designed with a crew aboard, paving the way for future lunar surface missions.

What Comes Next: Preparing for Lunar Landings

Following the Artemis 2 mission, NASA plans to proceed with Artemis 3, currently targeted for 2026, which will attempt to land astronauts on the lunar surface near the Moon’s South Pole. This mission will rely on SpaceX’s Starship as the Human Landing System (HLS). The success of Artemis 2 is paramount to the success of Artemis 3 and the broader Artemis program. Ongoing development and testing of the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and HLS are critical to achieving these goals. The Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, serving as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars.