Artemis II Reaches Launch Pad: Historic Rollout Signals Lunar Return

**Reid Wiseman Overview** Gregory Reid Wiseman is an American astronaut, engineer, and naval officer born on November 11, 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.[3] Before joining NASA, Wiseman built a distinguished military career. He was commissioned through ROTC following his 1997 graduation and reported to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training, becoming a naval aviator in 1999.[3] He flew the F-14 Tomcat for Fighter Squadron 101 and later the FA-18F Super Hornet for Strike Fighter Squadron 103.[2] Wiseman deployed twice to the Middle East for Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. After attending the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 2004, he worked on advanced aircraft programs including the F-35 Lightning II and served as Strike Operations Officer for Carrier Air Wing Seventeen.[2] NASA selected Wiseman as an astronaut in June 2009 as part of Astronaut Group 20, and he completed training in May 2011.[5] His first spaceflight came as Flight Engineer aboard the International Space Station during Expeditions 40/41 from May to November 2014, a 165-day mission.[4] During this mission, Wiseman and his crew completed over 300 scientific experiments and set a record of 82 hours of research in a single week, while Wiseman performed two spacewalks totaling approximately 13 hours.[1][5] After his spaceflight, Wiseman served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office from June 2017 and was promoted to Chief on December 18, 2020.[4] He stepped down in November 2022 to return to active flight status.[5] On April 3, 2023, NASA announced Wiseman as commander of Artemis II, marking his current role.[5] This mission represents the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972, positioning Wiseman as a key figure in humanity's return to lunar exploration.[6]

**Victor J. Glover Jr.** is a United States Navy captain, test pilot, and NASA astronaut born on April 30, 1976, in Pomona, California.[2] He was selected as a member of NASA's 21st Astronaut Group in 2013 while serving as a legislative fellow on the personal staff of Senator John McCain.[1][4] Glover earned his Naval Aviator wings on December 14, 2001, following flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and Kingsville, Texas.[1] Over his military aviation career, he accumulated 3,500 flight hours in more than 40 different aircraft, completed over 400 carrier arrested landings, and flew 24 combat missions.[1] He served as an F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler pilot, and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.[2] After completing Astronaut Candidate Training in 2015, Glover served in various roles including space station capsule communicator and Expedition 52 Increment Lead Crewmember.[1] His first spaceflight came in November 2020 as pilot of SpaceX's Crew-1 mission aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft Resilience, marking the first operational crewed flight of that vehicle.[2] During this mission, he spent 168 days in space from November 16, 2020, to May 2, 2021, completed four spacewalks totaling 26 hours and 7 minutes, and served as a flight engineer for ISS Expeditions 64 and 65.[1][3] Notably, Glover became the first African American to live in residence aboard the International Space Station, not merely visit for short-term missions.[2][8] Currently, Glover holds significant relevance in NASA's deep space exploration program. In 2023, he was assigned as pilot for the Artemis II mission, a approximately 10-day crewed flight to the Moon that will test NASA's Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System rocket, and foundational human deep space exploration capabilities.[1][7] This mission represents a critical step in NASA's goal to establish a long-term lunar presence for science and exploration.

Christina Hammock Koch (pronounced "Cook") is an American engineer and NASA astronaut selected in 2013 as part of the 21st astronaut class.[1][3][5] Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in Jacksonville, North Carolina, she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and physics, plus a Master of Science in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University.[3][4] Early in her career, Koch participated in NASA's Academy program in 2001, worked as an electrical engineer at Goddard Space Flight Center on instruments for missions like Juno and Van Allen probes, and gained experience in extreme environments, including a winter-over at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and research in Alaska and American Samoa.[1][2][5] Koch completed astronaut training in 2015, including T-38 jet piloting, Russian language, robotics, and spacewalk simulations.[1][5] Assigned to her first mission in 2018, she launched on March 14, 2019, aboard a Russian Soyuz to the International Space Station (ISS) as flight engineer for Expeditions 59, 60, and 61.[1][5] Her stay lasted a record 328 consecutive days—the longest single spaceflight by a woman and second-longest by a U.S. astronaut—covering 5,248 Earth orbits and involving over 210 experiments in biology, Earth science, physical sciences, and technology, such as protein crystal growth, 3D bioprinting, and Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer upgrades.[1][2][4] She conducted six spacewalks totaling 42 hours and 15 minutes, including the first all-female spacewalk on October 18, 2019, with Jessica Meir.[1][5] Post-mission, Koch served as Branch Chief of the Assigned Crew Branch in NASA's Astronaut Office and Assistant for Technical Integration for the Johnson Space Center Director.[1] She is currently training as Mission Specialist I for Artemis II, NASA's planned crewed lunar flyby mission, positioning her as a key figure in returning humans to the Moon and advancing Mars exploration goals.[1][3][6] Her achievements continue to inspire STEM fields, particularly for women.[2][6]

Jeremy Roger Hansen, born January 27, 1976, in London, Ontario, is a Canadian astronaut, colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, fighter pilot, and physicist.[1][3][4] Raised on a farm near Ailsa Craig and later in Ingersoll, he developed an early passion for aviation, joining the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at age 12, earning glider pilot wings at 16, and a private pilot license at 17.[1][2][3] Hansen holds a Bachelor of Science in space science (1999) and a Master of Science in physics from the Royal Military College of Canada.[1][2] He trained as a CF-18 fighter pilot, serving in squadrons at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, including roles in NORAD operations, deployments, and as a maintenance test pilot.[4][6] Selected by the Canadian Space Agency in 2009 as one of two new astronauts, he joined NASA's 20th astronaut class, completing training in 2011 that covered ISS systems, spacewalks, robotics, T-38 flights, Russian language, and survival skills.[1][2][6] Key achievements include serving as Capcom at NASA's Mission Control, supporting ISS expeditions; participating in ESA's 2013 CAVES analog mission in Sardinian caves; and NASA's 2014 NEEMO 19 undersea mission in the Aquarius habitat.[1][3][4] He became the first Canadian to lead a NASA astronaut class, managing training for U.S. and Canadian candidates through 2020.[1][2][5] In 2023, Hansen was assigned as mission specialist for Artemis II, NASA's first crewed Orion flight test on the SLS rocket, scheduled for early 2026, making him the first Canadian to travel to the Moon and beyond low Earth orbit.[1][2][3][4] He advocates for STEM education, inspiring youth through outreach and flying historic aircraft like the Hawk One F-86 Sabre.[1][2] As of late 2025, he remains a pivotal figure in Canada's space program, preparing for this historic lunar orbit mission.[3]