We. Are. Going! NASA announces moon mission crew

HOUSTON — With the pomp and circumstance befitting the magnitude of the event Monday, culminating with chants of “We. Are. Going! We. Are. Going! We. Are. Going!”, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four astronauts who will venture around the moon on Artemis II.

It will be the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the moon for science and exploration through Artemis, the space agency announced. The crew member reveal was held at Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity’s crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, each has their own story, but, together, they represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one.

“Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation.”

The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.

The flight will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the moon, paving the way for future for long-term human exploration missions to the moon, and eventually Mars.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the moon,” said Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche. “Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all.

“This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industry and academic partnerships and the Artemis Generation.”

The crew is: 

• Reid Wiseman. This will be his second trip into space, serving previously as a flight engineer aboard the International Station for Expedition 41 from May through November 2014. Wiseman has logged more than 165 days in space, including almost 13 hours as lead spacewalker during two trips outside the orbital complex. Prior to his assignment, Wiseman served as chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 until November 2022.
• Victor Glover. The mission will be Glover’s second spaceflight, serving previously as pilot on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1, which landed May 2, 2021, after 168 days in space. As a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 64, he contributed to scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and participated in four spacewalks.
• Christina Hammock Koch. This will be her second flight into space after serving as flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 59, 60, and 61. Koch set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with 328 days in space and participated in the first all-female spacewalks.
• Jeremy Hansen. A colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and former fighter pilot, Hansen is making his first flight to space. He holds a Bachelor of Science in space science and a Master of Science in physics from Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont., with a research focus on “Wide Field of View Satellite Tracking.” He has served as Capcom in the Mission Control Center at Johnson and, in 2017, became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class of candidates from the United States and Canada.

“I could not be prouder that these brave four will kickstart our journeys to the Moon and beyond,” said Director of Flight Operations Norm Knight, NASA Johnson. “They represent exactly what an astronaut corps should be: a mix of highly capable and accomplished individuals with the skills and determination to take on any trial as a team. The Artemis II mission will be challenging, and we’ll test our limits as we prepare to put future astronauts on the Moon.

“With Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy at the controls, I have no doubt we’re ready to face every challenge that comes our way.”