National USA The Aeronautics and Space Administration will write a up-to-date chapter in the history of space exploration. The agency is preparing to launch Artemis II, a mission that will mark the return of manned flights around the moon after more than half a century.
In addition to its technical significance, the project is distinguished by the integration of the crew, which symbolizes a up-to-date stage in terms of representation: the team will include the first woman, the first black person and the first non-US astronaut to travel to the lunar environment.
The members’ names were announced just over three years ago. At the time, then-NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said: “The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to take us to the stars. This is the crew of humanity. Each has their own story, but together they embody our credo: One of manyor “Out of many, one.”
After several postponements, the premiere was scheduled for April 1. According to NASAapproximately eight minutes after launch, the Orion spacecraft and its passengers will reach space. The mission will then complete an orbit around Earth before beginning its trajectory towards the Moon. The spacecraft is estimated to come within 6,450 to 9,650 kilometers of the lunar surface before returning and falling into the ocean.
The mission will last approximately 10 days. During this period, the team will assess the performance of Orion’s operating and life support systems, which are critical to future missions. These checks are necessary as part of NASA’s schedule to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028.
The historic crew of the Artemis II mission
The mission will be commanded by American astronaut Reid Wiseman. The crew is complemented by his compatriots Victor Glover and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Jeremy Hansen. The agency is convinced that the accumulated experience, technical skills and professional preparation of the four specialists will determine the success of the flight, considered a key step towards the goal of sending a man to Mars.
Reid Wiseman
Courtesy of NASA
Born in Baltimore, Wiseman is a 27-year veteran of the United States Navy. A naval aviator and decorated test pilot, he will take command of Artemis II. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a certificate in space systems from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
Selected as an astronaut in 2009, he made his first space flight in 2014 aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule bound for the International Space Station. During this 165-day mission, he served as flight engineer and completed 13 hours of spacewalks during two spaceflights. Together with his team, he participated in over 200 experiments in the field of human physiology, medicine, physical sciences, Earth sciences and astrophysics.
Despite his extensive professional career, Wiseman believes that the biggest challenge is becoming a single father of two children, an experience he also describes as the most rewarding of his life.
Victor J. Glover
Courtesy of NASA
A native of Pomona, California, Glover has a long career as a naval aviator with both combat and flight test experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree in general engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and completed naval aviator training in 2001. Since then, he has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours in 40 types of aircraft, including 24 combat missions and over 400 carrier landings.
He joined NASA in 2013 and, after completing his training, served in key ground-based roles as a capsule communicator and operations officer for the Soyuz and Crew Dragon missions. His first trip to space was in 2020 as a pilot of the SpaceX Crew-1 mission – the first long-term operational mission to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft. On this occasion, he spent 168 days in orbit, completed four spacewalks, and participated in a variety of science and conservation activities.