Today, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson unveiled the highly anticipated crew members for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch in 2024. This historic mission, part of NASA’s ambitious Artemis program, aims to return astronauts to the Moon and lay the foundation for a sustainable lunar presence, as well as future missions to Mars.

The Artemis II mission is a crucial step in achieving these goals, and the crew members named today will play a pivotal role in this ambitious endeavor. The four crew members are:

Commander: Reid Wiseman
Pilot: Victor Glover
Mission Specialist: Jeremy Hansen
Mission Specialist: Christina Koch

Reid Wiseman, a former Navy aviator and test pilot, will take on the role of Commander for the Artemis II mission. Wiseman, who has previously flown to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014, brings valuable experience and leadership to the team.

Victor Glover, a Navy pilot and test engineer, will serve as Pilot for the mission. Glover is no stranger to space exploration, having completed a long-duration stay on the ISS in 2020-2021 as part of the SpaceX Crew-1 mission.

Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, will be one of the two Mission Specialists. With a background in the Royal Canadian Air Force and extensive experience in geological fieldwork, Hansen’s expertise will be invaluable for the lunar exploration phase of the mission.

Christina Koch, the fourth crew member, will also serve as a Mission Specialist. Koch is best known for her record-breaking 328-day stay on the ISS from 2019 to 2020, making her the holder of the longest single spaceflight by a woman. With her extensive experience in spacewalks and extravehicular activities, Koch will play a crucial role in the mission’s success.

The Artemis II mission will be the first crewed flight test of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft, designed to carry humans to deep space destinations. While Artemis II will not involve a lunar landing, it will pave the way for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2025.

The announcement of the Artemis II crew marks a significant milestone in NASA’s efforts to return humans to the Moon and beyond. These astronauts will not only make history by participating in the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years, but they will also help pave the way for future generations of space explorers.

As the world eagerly awaits the launch of Artemis II in 2024, the newly announced crew will begin intensive training and preparations for their groundbreaking mission. Their journey will undoubtedly inspire countless individuals and rekindle the human spirit of exploration and discovery that has driven our species since its inception.