Meet the Crew of NASA Artemis II

The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission (left to right): NASA astronauts Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman (seated), Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. NASA

Down in Cape Canaveral, the next crew headed toward the moon looks a whole lot different than the old Apollo days—and that’s something worth tipping your hat to.

Back in the day, the trail to the moon was blazed by military test pilots—mostly white men flying on grit and guts. But this new Artemis II crew? It’s a whole new Texas-sized mix of talent—featuring a woman, a man of color, and even a Canadian—showing just how far the program has come.

None of these astronauts were even around when Apollo program was making history, sending 24 astronauts to the moon and 12 walking on its surface. This time, they won’t be landing or orbiting—but don’t let that fool you. They’ll be riding farther out into space than any human has gone before, slingshotting around the moon and giving us a view of the far side most folks have only dreamed about.

Commander Reid Wiseman

Leading the charge is Reid Wiseman, a retired Navy captain who’ll tell you straight—raising two daughters on his own has been tougher than any space mission. After losing his wife to cancer, he’s learned what real strength looks like. Flying around the moon is big… but being there for his girls? That’s the real mission.

Pilot Victor Glover

Victor Glover is making history as one of NASA’s few Black astronauts to take on a mission like this. A Navy captain and combat pilot, he carries both pride and perspective—knowing where we’ve been, and what it means to open doors for the next generation. With four daughters watching, he’s not just flying a mission—he’s setting an example.

Mission Specialist Christina Koch

Christina Koch has already logged nearly a year in space—so a quick 10-day trip around the moon? That’s just another ride. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and was part of the first all-female spacewalk. To her, this mission isn’t just personal—it’s proof that doors are wide open now for women aiming for the stars.

Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen

Representing our neighbors up north, Jeremy Hansen is stepping into history as Canada’s first astronaut headed toward the moon. A fighter pilot and physicist raised on a farm, he knows hard work—and he knows the risks. But like any good Texan would respect, he’s facing it head-on, honest with his family and ready for the ride.

At the end of the day, this crew ain’t just flying a mission—they’re laying down tracks for the next wave of moon landings. It’s a new chapter in space exploration… bigger, broader, and built for everyone.

And if everything goes right, this journey will help set the stage for boots back on the moon by the end of the decade.