NASA has selected four astronauts for the first crewed moon mission in five decades. The team, led by Reid Wiseman, will embark on a historic journey aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket.
Wiseman, 47, is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who has completed one prior spaceflight to the International Space Station. He will serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot from Canada and will become the first Canadian to travel to deep space. Glover, 46, is a naval aviator who piloted SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft during his first spaceflight.
The crew members were announced at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. The Artemis II mission is expected to take off around November 2024 and will last about 10 days, sending the crew out beyond the moon. After circling the moon, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The selection process involved a diverse group of astronauts with various backgrounds. The director of NASA's Johnson Space Center declined to provide details on the selection process but emphasized the diversity of the Artemis II crew.
Christina Koch, 44, is a veteran of six spacewalks and holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. She will be part of the Artemis II mission and has expressed her honor at being selected to join the historic team.
The Artemis III mission, expected to launch in 2025, will mark the first time humans have visited the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The space agency is seeking to return people to the moon for more than a decade as part of its plans to establish a permanent lunar outpost and eventually send humans to Mars.
The crew members were informed about their selection during a meeting on a different pretext, with Koch describing herself as "speechless" when she received the news. The team will appear on CNN's "This Morning" on Tuesday to discuss their historic journey ahead.
Wiseman, 47, is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who has completed one prior spaceflight to the International Space Station. He will serve as commander of the Artemis II mission. Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot from Canada and will become the first Canadian to travel to deep space. Glover, 46, is a naval aviator who piloted SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft during his first spaceflight.
The crew members were announced at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday. The Artemis II mission is expected to take off around November 2024 and will last about 10 days, sending the crew out beyond the moon. After circling the moon, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.
The selection process involved a diverse group of astronauts with various backgrounds. The director of NASA's Johnson Space Center declined to provide details on the selection process but emphasized the diversity of the Artemis II crew.
Christina Koch, 44, is a veteran of six spacewalks and holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. She will be part of the Artemis II mission and has expressed her honor at being selected to join the historic team.
The Artemis III mission, expected to launch in 2025, will mark the first time humans have visited the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. The space agency is seeking to return people to the moon for more than a decade as part of its plans to establish a permanent lunar outpost and eventually send humans to Mars.
The crew members were informed about their selection during a meeting on a different pretext, with Koch describing herself as "speechless" when she received the news. The team will appear on CNN's "This Morning" on Tuesday to discuss their historic journey ahead.
I'm not sure why NASA is making such a big deal about sending people back to the moon 
. I mean, we've been there before and it's not like it's going to be some groundbreaking experience for the astronauts. It's just going to be another adventure, and I hope they're prepared for the long-term implications of establishing a permanent lunar outpost 
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. Wasn't the whole point of space exploration supposed to be sharing knowledge with the public? It seems like they're keeping all the details under wraps, even from the astronauts themselves 
. I guess you could say I'm a bit skeptical about the whole Artemis II mission... 
. I mean, have you seen the timeline for these astronauts? They're gonna be out there for 10 days with minimal training and still expect us to believe they can handle anything that comes up? It's just a bunch of hype to get people excited about space travel again... like we haven't been over this before 
. And Hansen getting picked because he's Canadian is just a publicity stunt at this point 
. I'm not saying Canada doesn't have awesome astronauts, but come on, let's not make this about politics here.
. Mark my words, we'll be stuck in lunar limbo forever 
NASA is finally back in the moon game and it's about time! The crew they selected sounds amazing - Reid Wiseman is a total rockstar with his naval aviator skills, Hansen is gonna be the 1st Canadian in deep space 
what an honor, Glover just flew SpaceX Crew Dragon like that's not cool at all 
and Koch holds the record for longest single spaceflight as a woman - girl power! 
I'm so hyped for Artemis II in Nov 2024 & Artemis III in 2025 can't wait to see what these astronauts bring back to Earth 
! reid wiseman is going to be the commander and christina koch is part of the team too 
. canada got represented too with hansen, first canadian in deep space 
. cant wait for november 2024 when the crew blasts off 
, are about to embark on this incredible journey. Reid Wiseman is leading the team as commander of the Artemis II mission and Hansen will be the first Canadian in deep space 
the Artemis II mission is gonna be HUGE 
Canada, represent! 
. The fact that Christina Koch has six spacewalks under her belt is insane – what a record holder! 
I'm beyond stoked about this! A crewed moon mission in 5 decades? Mind. Blown 
Can't wait to watch them embark on this historic journey and learn more about the Artemis III mission in 2025 
) and then splashing down in the Pacific... I'm literally rooting for them all from afar 
Also, I'm loving how they're planning to establish a permanent lunar outpost and eventually send humans to Mars. It's gonna be a wild ride! 
, so we're in for some amazing skills on this mission! And Christina Koch is like, the ultimate space vet with 6 spacewalks under her belt 
from canada becoming the first canadian in deep space 
and christina koch holding that record for longest single spaceflight is already amazing 
The fact that they'll be circling the moon for 10 days and then splashing down in the Pacific 
is just wow! The diversity of this team is what excites me most 
But what I find really cool is that this mission isn't just about the astronauts themselves, but about paving the way for a permanent lunar outpost. Can you imagine having humans living on the moon long-term? Mind-blowing stuff! And it's not just about Mars next - we're talking long-term sustainability here.