NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) have announced the crew for Artemis II, the first manned mission on NASA’s journey to establish a long-term presence on the Moon for scientific and exploratory purposes through the Artemis program.
The crew members were revealed during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The crew comprises Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. The team will work together to carry out a series of demonstrations during the approximately 10-day flight test.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed that the Artemis II crew represents the efforts of countless individuals who have worked tirelessly to take humanity to the stars. The crew includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who, together, embody the agency’s mission of “out of many, one”.
The flight, which builds upon the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission, will be the first manned mission to the vicinity of the Moon in over 50 years. The Artemis II mission will test the life-support systems of the Orion spacecraft, validate techniques for humans to live and work in deep space, and set the stage for the first woman and person of color to walk on the Moon as part of the Artemis program, according to NASA.
The Canadian Space Agency’s participation in the Artemis program marks a defining chapter in the nation’s space exploration history, as well as a testament to the close partnership between Canada and the United States. According to the Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, the minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, the inclusion of a Canadian astronaut in the Artemis II mission is a significant accomplishment.
Director Vanessa Wyche of NASA Johnson stated that the Artemis II mission will pave the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration, providing new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industry, and academic partnerships, and the Artemis Generation.
Who are the Artemis II Astronauts?
Reid Wiseman is no stranger to space, having already spent over 165 days in space, including almost 13 hours as a lead spacewalker during two trips outside the orbital complex. His second trip will be as a part of the Artemis II mission, where he will be utilizing his experience as the chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 until November 2022.
Victor Glover’s second spaceflight will be as a part of the Artemis II mission. On his previous mission as a pilot on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1, he spent 168 days in space as a flight engineer and participated in four spacewalks. During his time aboard the space station for Expedition 64, he contributed to various scientific investigations and technology demonstrations.
Christina Koch, the record holder for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, will also be making her second trip to space on the Artemis II mission. Her previous mission saw her spend 328 days in space as a flight engineer for Expedition 59, 60, and 61, and she also participated in the first all-female spacewalks.
Representing Canada on the Artemis II mission is Jeremy Hansen, who is making his first flight to space. A former fighter pilot and colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces, Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science in space science and a Master of Science in physics. He was selected by the CSA in May 2009 through the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign and has since served as Capcom in NASA’s Mission Control Center. Hansen also became the first Canadian to lead the training of astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada in 2017.
As Director of Flight Operations Norm Knight said, “With Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy at the controls, I have no doubt we’re ready to face every challenge that comes our way.” The Artemis II mission is an important step towards exploring more of the lunar surface than ever before and establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, all while collaborating with commercial and international partners. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from these missions will enable NASA to take the next giant leap of sending astronauts to Mars.
