
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’s history-making moon mission aims to send the first woman and person of color to deep space - 2
Peloton recalls more than 800,000 bikes after broken seat posts injure users - 3
Thousands of small fish defy gravity to climb Congo waterfall - 4
Ukraine: Russians abduct 50 Ukrainians from border village in Sumy - 5
Ryan Gosling responds to Deidre Hall's invitation to visit the 'Days of Our Lives' set: 'This is a very enthusiastic yes'
Israel faces widespread condemnation as NGO ban comes into effect
German unemployment rate falls to 6.4%, but 3 million still jobless
EU Commission slams Israel's death penalty law for Palestinians
5 Different ways Macintosh is Prepared to Overwhelm Gaming, Even Against Windows
Popular Japanese Hotel Chain Now Lets You Show Up With Just Your Passport
New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash: How to watch the star-studded country music special live
The Force of Positive Reasoning: Day to day Attestations
Sarkozy says he owes France 'the truth' as he challenges conviction over alleged Libya funding
How to watch ‘The Traitors’ Season 4: Premiere date, episode release time, full cast list and more












