Meet the Crew of Artemis II
- 2nd Apr 2026
- Author: Dhara Patel
For the first time in over 50 years, NASA is sending humans back to the Moon with the Artemis Program. Artemis II launched on 1 April and will carry a crew of four around the Moon on a ten-day mission. But who are the astronauts on board the Orion spacecraft?
Reid Wiseman
Space agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Astronaut selection:
June 2009 as part of the 20th NASA astronaut class
Spaceflight experience:
Expedition 40/41 to the ISS, Flight Engineer (2014) - 165 days in space
Artemis II, Commander (2026)
Reid Wiseman was born in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated high school in 1993. As a child he would travel with his family to watch the US Navy Blue Angels shows which propelled his interest in aviation. When his application to the Navy Academy was denied, Wiseman went on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1997.
After graduating, Wiseman underwent flight training through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and became a Naval Aviator in 1999. He was deployed to the Middle East twice, and attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School where he helped test and evaluate aircraft. At this time Wiseman obtained a master's degree in Systems Engineering from John Hopkins University in 2006. He was awarded with several medals during his piloting career and continued to impress his superiors in the Navy. It was while he was at sea that he applied and was selected for astronaut training in 2009.
Following his mission to the ISS in 2014, Wiseman served as chief of the astronaut office from 2020-2022 (the most senior leadership position for active astronauts at NASA). his leadership and relatable character positioned Wiseman well to take the role of Commander on the Artemis II mission.
Reid Wiseman: “It's an honor to be on this [mission]. It's a great step. It's been over 50 years and it's time for us to head back to the moon."
Victor Glover
Space agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Astronaut selection:
June 2013 as part of the 21st NASA astronaut class
Spaceflight experience:
Expedition 64/65 to the ISS, Flight Engineer (2020) - 167 days in space
Artemis II, Pilot (2026)
Victor Glover was born in Pomona, California and graduated from high school in 1994 where he was a star athlete. His sporting interest continued whilst he attended university to study his enjoyment of science and engineering. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from California Polytechnic State University in 1999.
After graduating, Glover enlisted in the U.S. Navy, completed his advanced flight training and earned his wings as a naval aviator in 2001. In his aviation career, Glover logged over 3,500 flight hours on more than 40 aircraft and participated in 24 combat missions. He also went on to complete three master’s degrees from three different institutions between 2007 and 2010.
While still in test pilot school, Glover heard former NASA astronaut and shuttle commander Pamela Melroy speak at a conference. Jumping on his childhood fascination of wanting to ‘drive the Space Shuttle’, this encounter fuelled his pursuit of becoming an astronaut which he achieved in 2013. And having completed his astronaut training in 2015, Glover took on several different roles in NASA including CAPCOM in mission control ahead of his first mission to the ISS in 2020. Glover’s significant piloting experience prepared him to be chosen as the Pilot for the historic Artemis II mission.
Victor Glover: "I'm wearing an American flag, but when I leave the planet, I represent Earth, you represent humanity, and I really take that seriously. We all have a duty to represent humanity."
Christina Hammock Koch
Space agency:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Astronaut selection:
June 2013 as part of the 21st NASA astronaut class
Spaceflight experience:
Expedition 59/60/61 to the ISS, Flight Engineer (2019) - 328 days in space
Artemis II, Mission Specialist (2026)
Christina Koch was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a child. When she graduated from high school in 1997, she went on to earn two Bachelor of Science degrees (in electrical engineering and physics) from North Carolina State University in 2001. In the same year she also became a graduate of NASA Academy Program (an intensive 10-week summer program to learn at an early stage how NASA functions) and then completed her Master of Science degree in electrical engineering in 2002.
Koch began her NASA career as an Electrical Engineer at the Goddard Space Flight Center where she worked on instruments for different space science missions. Koch then spent a year in Antarctica as a Research Associate in the United States Antarctic Program and returned to both fields later in her career. She also joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continuing to work at scientific bases in remote locations. Her various experiences at NASA set Koch up to apply to be an astronauts and she was selected in the class of 2013.
Her first spaceflight came in 2019 where she claimed the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (spending almost a whole year in space!) and participated in the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir. Koch's previous technical skills, experience of working in harsh environments and spaceflight skills led to her becoming a Mission Specialist on Artemis II.
Christina Koch: "I hope they forget all about Artemis II...we talk about our legacy being enabling the future missions. And all the way from Artemis III to Artemis 100 to missions to Mars.”
Jeremy Hansen
Space agency:
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Astronaut selection:
May 2009 as part of the 3rd CSA astronaut class
Spaceflight experience:
Artemis II, Mission Specialist (2026)
Jeremy Hansen was born in London, Ontario, and was raised on a farm until his high school years. His interest in spaceflight started at a young age as he joined the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at 12 years old and continued to become a glider pilot n 1992, receiving his pilot's license the following year aged 17. Hansen graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Space Science in 1999 from the Royal Military College in Kingston and later completed a Master of Science degree in Physics at the Royal Military College in 2000.
After graduating, Hansen continued to fly as a fighter pilot. And during the 2008 Canadian Space Agency astronaut recruitment drive, Hansen's robust technical skills and operational expertise in high-stress environments led him to successfully being selected as an astronaut in 2009.
Following his astronaut selection he participated in international astronaut training programs to prepare astronauts for long duration spaceflight. Hansen trained in Sardinia as a cavenaut in the ESA CAVES program (training in an analogue cave environment) in 2013 and in 2014 served as an aquanaut during NASA's NEEMO 19 undersea exploration mission (training in an underwater habitat).
Although he had no previous spaceflight experience, Hansen's strong educational foundation, extensive aviation background and simulated space environment training and experience made him a deserving Mission Specialist for Artemis 2 - representing the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
Jeremy Hansen: "Artemis II is a historic moment for Canada – a mission that showcases our national pride and leadership in space innovation."
Ad Astra Artemis II crew
Full references / credits:
(Banner image) Artemis II Crew. Credit: NASA
(1) Reid Wiseman. Credit: NASA – Johnson Space Center
(2) Victor Glover. Credit: NASA – Johnson Space Center
(3) Christina Hammock Koch. Credit: NASA – Johnson Space Center
(4) Jeremy Hansen. Credit: NASA – Johnson Space Center
