NASA Names Four Astronauts for Historic Artemis II Moon Mission

United States — Ekhbary News Agency

NASA has officially unveiled the four astronauts selected for the Artemis II mission, a historic lunar flyby set to become the first crewed journey around the Moon in over five decades. The announcement, made on Monday, names Reid Wiseman as commander, alongside Victor Glover, Christina Koch of NASA, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. This mission is a crucial step towards returning humanity to the lunar surface and beyond, with a planned launch in November 2024.

The chosen crew brings extensive experience: Reid Wiseman, a seasoned naval aviator and former chief of the astronaut office, completed a 165-day mission to the International Space Station. Victor Glover, also a naval aviator, piloted a SpaceX Crew Dragon flight. Christina Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and participated in the first all-female spacewalk. Jeremy Hansen, a fighter pilot, will be the first Canadian to travel into deep space. The Artemis II mission, building on the uncrewed Artemis I success, will launch aboard a Space Launch System rocket for an approximately 10-day journey beyond the Moon, culminating in a Pacific Ocean splashdown, paving the way for future lunar exploration.