The NASA Artemis II mission is a big step in space history. It will be the first time in more than 50 years that astronauts travel around the Moon. The last time this happened was during Apollo 17 in 1972. This mission is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars.
Reid Wiseman
Reid Wiseman is the commander of Artemis II. He is a trained astronaut and a former US Navy captain. He joined NASA in 2009 and went to space for the first time in 2014. He also worked as the Chief of the Astronaut Office. Wiseman will lead the team on this historic mission. He is the first commander to go around the Moon since Apollo 17.
Victor Glover
Victor Glover is the pilot of the mission. He is also a US Navy captain and a skilled test pilot. He has already been to space and spent months on the International Space Station. In Artemis II, he will become the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit. This is a very important moment in space history.
Christina Koch
Christina Koch is a mission specialist. She is an engineer and experienced astronaut. She holds the record for the longest time spent in space by a woman. She also took part in the first all-female spacewalk. With this mission, she will become the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
Jeremy Hansen
Jeremy Hansen is also a mission specialist. He is a fighter pilot and represents Canada. He was selected by the Canadian Space Agency and has strong experience in aviation and science. Hansen will be the first non-American astronaut to travel beyond low Earth orbit, making this mission truly international.
The Artemis II crew is a strong and diverse team. This mission will open the door for future Moon landings and human missions to Mars. It is a proud moment for space exploration and for the whole world.