Following the successful completion of the initial phase of the Artemis program in December, NASA has unveiled its plans for Artemis II, marking a significant step in its return to lunar exploration. The mission will feature a crew of four astronauts: Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. This 10-day mission aims to test and validate the conditions necessary for future moon landings and the potential for human habitation in deep space.
Scheduled for launch as early as 2024, Artemis II will be the first crewed mission to fly by the moon in over half a century. Commander Reid Wiseman will lead the team, which includes Christina Koch and Victor Glover, making history as the first female and first African American astronauts to be part of a lunar mission. The inclusion of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen highlights the collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson expressed the significance of the mission, stating, "The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity’s crew… Each has their own story, but, together, they represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation."
The Artemis Crew
Victor Glover, a US Navy Aviator and fighter pilot, will serve as the pilot for Artemis II. Glover brings valuable experience from his previous spaceflight missions, including the SpaceX Dragon Crew-I mission, which lasted 168 days in orbit and marked SpaceX’s first collaboration with NASA on the International Space Station (ISS).
Christina Koch, a fellow 2013 astronaut class member and record holder for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, will take on the role of Mission Specialist 1. Artemis II will be her second space mission, following her successful stint on the ISS, where she participated in the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir in 2019. Koch's background as an electrical engineer at NASA’s Goddard Center in Maryland and her work on advanced robotics for previous missions further enhance her qualifications.
Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen will serve as Mission Commander and Mission Specialist 2, respectively. Wiseman, a NASA astronaut since 2009, has participated in ISS expeditions 40 and 41 and previously served as NASA’s Chief of the Astronaut Office. His leadership has been pivotal in the development of the Artemis program.
Jeremy Hansen, representing the Canadian Space Agency, has a distinguished military background, having served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Recruited as a CSA astronaut in 2009, Hansen has participated in the European Space Agency’s subterranean CAVES program and the underwater NEEMO expedition.
The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister Responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, remarked, "We are going back to the Moon and Canada is at the center of this exciting journey… Canada’s participation in the Artemis program is not only a defining chapter of our history in space, but also a testament to the friendship and close partnership between our two nations."
An Outpost to Mars
The Artemis program is a crucial component of NASA’s broader vision to bridge the gap between Earth and Mars. These missions serve as a stepping stone in NASA’s history, marking the first lunar missions since 1972. The objective is to test advanced technologies to explore more of the moon’s surface, ultimately paving the way for deeper solar system exploration.
NASA plans to collaborate with international and commercial partners to establish a “sustainable outpost” on the moon, ensuring a long-term human presence. This outpost will test human endurance in deep-space missions and serve as a launch pad for future Mars missions.
In addition to testing spacecraft and sending humans back to the moon, the Artemis program incorporates robotics and innovative technologies to locate and potentially recover resources like water, which can be converted into essential resources such as fuel and oxygen.
While the early phases of the Artemis program have utilized commercial rockets, NASA’s Space Launch System, the Orion crew capsule, and a commercial lunar landing system, Mars remains the ultimate goal. By advancing landing technologies and designing new mobility systems, NASA envisions astronauts traveling greater distances in the near future.