
April 1 (Reuters) - All three NASA astronauts on the Artemis II lunar mission are veterans of Earth-orbit science expeditions to the International Space Station, while the lone Canadian joining them on a voyage around the moon and back is a spaceflight rookie.
Here are some highlights from the careers of mission commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch, all U.S. astronauts, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, also a mission specialist.
MISSION COMMANDER REID WISEMAN
Wiseman, 50, logged 165 days aboard the International Space Station during a 2014 mission, flying to the orbiting platform aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. A former U.S. Navy test pilot, he later served as NASA's chief astronaut before being selected to command Artemis II.
PILOT VICTOR GLOVER
Glover, 49, spent 168 days in orbit beginning in 2020 as pilot of NASA's Crew-1 flight, the first full-fledged ISS mission using SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule to carry astronauts to the space station. Before joining NASA, he flew more than 40 aircraft during a U.S. Navy career that included combat deployments and test-pilot duties. A veteran of four spacewalks, he is the first Black astronaut ever to be sent on a lunar mission.
MISSION SPECIALIST CHRISTINA KOCH
Koch, 47, set a record in 2019 for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, spending 328 days aboard the ISS, and was part of NASA's first three all-female spacewalks. Trained as an electrical engineer and physicist, she previously worked as a NASA engineer and carried out extended research expeditions in Antarctica. She is the first woman to fly on a moon-bound mission.
MISSION SPECIALIST JEREMY HANSEN
Hansen, 50, a Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, is the first Canadian, and first non-U.S. citizen, sent on a lunar mission even as he makes his own first spaceflight. He was selected for Canada's astronaut corps in 2009, and his seat aboard Artemis II reflects a long-standing U.S.–Canadian partnership in human spaceflight, including Canada's contributions to robotics used aboard the ISS.
(Compiled by Joey Roulette in Cape Canaveral, Florida and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Jamie Freed)
LATEST POSTS
- 1
NASA set to launch Artemis 2 moon mission today, the 1st crewed lunar flight since 1972 - 2
Selena Quintanilla documentary 'Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy' is coming to Netflix - 3
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 186 — Snow on the Moon? - 4
4 Excellent Remote Headphones of 2024 - 5
My Dad Can't Travel Like He Used to, but Slowing Down Doesn't Mean Stopping
Flat Earth, spirits and conspiracy theories – experience can shape even extraordinary beliefs
The Golden Globes gift bag has nearly $1 million worth of swag for some winners and presenters. What's in it?
East Germany Somehow Built a Real Sports Car and It Was Wild
Investigating the World's Chief Authentic Urban communities to Visit
Holiday season sees uptick in norovirus cases, according to CDC
Launch pad damaged as Russian rocket blasts off for space station, agency says
Arrow Exploration brings new Colombian oil well on stream ahead of schedule and under budget
Key Caper d: A Survey of \Procedure and Tomfoolery Released\ Tabletop game
Arctic sea ice just dropped to an alarming new low












