NASA has selected a diverse group of four astronauts for the first crewed mission to the moon in over 50 years, with the Artemis II lunar flyby set to take off in November 2024.
The quartet will be commanded by Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who previously served as chief of NASA's astronaut office. He will join Victor Glover, a veteran space traveler who has spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station, Christina Koch, an electrical engineer with multiple spacewalk experience, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019, and Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian fighter pilot who is set to become the first Canadian astronaut to travel to deep space.
The diverse crew reflects NASA's efforts to recruit a more inclusive group of astronauts. "We have requirements different than we did (when we) just had test pilots," said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The crew will undergo extensive training ahead of their historic mission, which is expected to last around 10 days and send them beyond the moon.
The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards establishing a permanent lunar outpost, with NASA aiming to return humans to the moon for more than a decade. The success of this mission could pave the way for even more ambitious endeavors, such as sending humans to Mars in the coming years.
The crew's selection was announced earlier this month, and they are still getting used to their new roles. Koch said she was "speechless" when offered the chance to join the mission, adding that it is an honor to be part of a team returning to the moon and aiming for Mars.
The quartet will be commanded by Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who previously served as chief of NASA's astronaut office. He will join Victor Glover, a veteran space traveler who has spent nearly six months aboard the International Space Station, Christina Koch, an electrical engineer with multiple spacewalk experience, including the first all-female spacewalk in 2019, and Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian fighter pilot who is set to become the first Canadian astronaut to travel to deep space.
The diverse crew reflects NASA's efforts to recruit a more inclusive group of astronauts. "We have requirements different than we did (when we) just had test pilots," said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. The crew will undergo extensive training ahead of their historic mission, which is expected to last around 10 days and send them beyond the moon.
The Artemis II mission is a crucial step towards establishing a permanent lunar outpost, with NASA aiming to return humans to the moon for more than a decade. The success of this mission could pave the way for even more ambitious endeavors, such as sending humans to Mars in the coming years.
The crew's selection was announced earlier this month, and they are still getting used to their new roles. Koch said she was "speechless" when offered the chance to join the mission, adding that it is an honor to be part of a team returning to the moon and aiming for Mars.
can't believe NASA finally got this right! Like, we've been waiting for ages for them to send ppl back to the moon 
and now they're doing it with such a dope crew 
Reid Wiseman is gonna be the commander and he's soooo qualified!!! 
Victor Glover is like a space veteran lol he's already done like 6 months on the ISS 
Christina Koch is a total rockstar for that first all-female spacewalk in 2019 
and Jeremy Hansen is like, Canada's finest pilot 
I'm low-key hyped for this mission to last only 10 days tho 
it's gonna be over before we know it
. And it's not just about the astronauts themselves, its also about the message it sends out to the world - that inclusion is key 
. NASA's really hitting the right note here with this diverse crew selection. The training will likely be intense, but I'm sure they'll all rise to the challenge 
. And who knows? Maybe one day we'll see a permanent lunar outpost and humans setting foot on Mars 
- the possibilities are endless!
after all these years! NASA is really stepping up their game with this diverse crew 
they're like, the ultimate squad 
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are gonna make history together 
I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of a team that's pushing for a permanent lunar outpost? 
read more about the crew here: 
is it true that the commander Reid Wiseman was chief of NASA's astronaut office before being picked for this mission? 
. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are going to make history, and I can only imagine how surreal this must be for them 
. The fact that NASA's prioritizing inclusivity in their astronaut recruitment process means so much - it's not just about the science, it's about creating a welcoming space (pun intended 
) for everyone to shine 
!
️ As we take our first steps towards the lunar horizon 
. The Artemis II mission represents a major milestone in humanity's quest to push beyond the boundaries of what's thought possible 
. We're excited to see what this crew of innovators can achieve together! 
It's about time we get our astronauts in space again, been too long since the last mission. NASA's doin' it right this time, got a diverse crew that's all about representin' everyone 
. I'm hyped to see where this journey takes us!
. Ten days is a pretty short amount of time to get ready for something as complex as a lunar flyby, especially considering the risks involved. I hope they're planning to do some rigorous training to ensure everyone's prepared for anything that might come up.
- it's like we're one step closer to returning to that beautiful, desolate landscape 
. And who knows? Maybe this is just the beginning of something much bigger... sending humans to Mars in the years to come? 
And Christina Koch, an electrical engineer and all-female spacewalk pioneer? Iconic 
Reid Wiseman is gonna be such an awesome commander too 
And who knows what the future holds?! Maybe we'll even get to Mars soon? 
It's like we're already forgetting about the real issues on Earth. I mean, 50 years is a long time, but what have we really accomplished? We're just going back to the moon, big deal 
It's nice that NASA is trying to recruit more people from different backgrounds, but what about the people who are actually affected by space exploration? Like, have you seen the state of our planet lately? Climate change, pollution, deforestation... that's some real problems we should be focusing on.
. 10 days might seem like nothin', but thats a huge deal for these astronauts, they're basically pioneers in their own way 
. And the fact that NASA is tryin' to be more inclusive with their crew selection is really cool 
also, it's not just about the crew - this mission is a big deal for nasa's plans to go back to the moon and eventually mars 
.
. It's not just about exploring space; it's also about pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, innovation, and collaboration