NASA has chosen its first crew of astronauts for the historic Artemis II mission to the moon in over five decades. The quartet, consisting of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, are set to embark on a decade-long endeavor that promises to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.
Commander Reid Wiseman, 47, is an experienced naval aviator and test pilot who previously spent 165 days in space aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket. Wiseman will lead the mission as its commander, having served as chief of NASA's astronaut office before stepping down last November.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot who was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009. This mission marks his first trip to deep space, setting him on course to become the first Canadian to venture beyond Earth's orbit.
The Artemis II mission will be a crucial step towards NASA's long-term plan to return humans to the moon and eventually establish a sustainable presence on Mars. The crew is expected to launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with an estimated journey duration of around 10 days.
Koch, who completed six spacewalks during her previous mission, will also be part of this historic endeavor. A veteran of over 328 days in space, she will join Wiseman and Hansen on the journey to the moon.
NASA director Vanessa Wyche emphasized the diversity of the Artemis II crew, with a mix of men and women who have undergone rigorous training for this mission. The quartet is set to be featured in an upcoming interview with CNN's Ed Lavandera, airing on "CNN This Morning" next week.
When asked about her reaction upon learning she had been selected for the mission, Koch revealed she was left "speechless." When presented with a surprise offer to join the crew, Koch expressed her gratitude and pride, saying it was an honor not only to be part of this team but also to contribute to the groundbreaking endeavor that promises to propel humanity towards Mars.
Commander Reid Wiseman, 47, is an experienced naval aviator and test pilot who previously spent 165 days in space aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket. Wiseman will lead the mission as its commander, having served as chief of NASA's astronaut office before stepping down last November.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, also 47, is a fighter pilot who was selected by the Canadian Space Agency for astronaut training in 2009. This mission marks his first trip to deep space, setting him on course to become the first Canadian to venture beyond Earth's orbit.
The Artemis II mission will be a crucial step towards NASA's long-term plan to return humans to the moon and eventually establish a sustainable presence on Mars. The crew is expected to launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with an estimated journey duration of around 10 days.
Koch, who completed six spacewalks during her previous mission, will also be part of this historic endeavor. A veteran of over 328 days in space, she will join Wiseman and Hansen on the journey to the moon.
NASA director Vanessa Wyche emphasized the diversity of the Artemis II crew, with a mix of men and women who have undergone rigorous training for this mission. The quartet is set to be featured in an upcoming interview with CNN's Ed Lavandera, airing on "CNN This Morning" next week.
When asked about her reaction upon learning she had been selected for the mission, Koch revealed she was left "speechless." When presented with a surprise offer to join the crew, Koch expressed her gratitude and pride, saying it was an honor not only to be part of this team but also to contribute to the groundbreaking endeavor that promises to propel humanity towards Mars.
they've been planning this for ages now & still gonna take 10 days to get there 
i mean, what's the rush? 
can't they just make it a regular thing like going to the grocery store or something? 
anyway, i'm hyped for this mission tho! 
it's cool that there's a mix of men & women on the crew. diversity is key, right? 
especially with Christina Koch being part of it. she's been through some crazy stuff in space 
Oh man I'm literally SOOO hyped for this Artemis II mission!!! I mean have you seen the crew?? Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - it's like a dream team of astronauts! 
I love that there's a mix of men and women on board, and the fact that they're all so experienced is just amazing. Christina Koch has already had six spacewalks under her belt, can you even imagine how epic it'll be to see her take on this mission?! 
And Jeremy Hansen's journey to becoming the first Canadian in deep space is literally giving me ALL THE FEELS! 
I mean we're talking about a decade-long endeavor to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface - it's like, wow. This is not just a mission for NASA, it's for HUMANITY!!! 
We need to be supporting our space agency and these incredible astronauts every step of the way! 
?! It's like, totally mind-blowing! I'm low-key freaking out thinking about Jeremy Hansen becoming the first Canadian in deep space 
. Reid Wiseman is like, totally the ultimate leader for this mission, I mean, he's got experience and all that jazz 
.
. I mean, you gotta love a diverse crew with experience spanning multiple space agencies - Reid Wiseman's got Russian rocket cred under his belt 
, and Jeremy Hansen's gonna be the first Canadian to venture beyond Earth's orbit 
. It's all about setting up for that Mars mission in the 2030s, you feel? The decade-long journey to lunar permanence better not get too boring 
.
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are literally the coolest astronauts ever 
. But seriously though, what's going to happen next after this mission? Are we really gonna have a permanent human presence on the moon and eventually Mars too? So many questions! 
I'm so hyped for this Artemis II mission!!! It's like, we're finally gonna make it back to the moon after all these years! 
And can you imagine the conversations they'll have up there? "What's it like being in space?" "How do you deal with zero gravity?" The possibilities are endless!