The four astronauts chosen for the Artemis 2 Moon mission will be the first to journey there in over fifty years, marking a significant moment in American space exploration.

American astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch will embark on this mission alongside their Canadian colleague Jeremy Hansen, with preparations underway for a launch as early as Wednesday.

The mission, which will last approximately ten days, involves a loop around the Moon without landing on its surface. This crew is notable for comprising the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American to participate in such an expedition, representing a departure from the Apollo era when only a select group of astronauts traveled to the Moon.

Here’s a closer look at the crew members:

Reid Wiseman

At 50, Reid Wiseman serves as the mission's commander. Hailing from Baltimore, he joined NASA in 2009 after a 27-year career in the US Navy. Wiseman once remarked on a NASA podcast, "I never thought I'd be an astronaut... it's like an unobtainable dream." However, in 2014, he completed a 165-day mission aboard the International Space Station and subsequently became NASA's chief of the astronaut office. After losing his wife to cancer in 2020, he has been raising their two teenage daughters alone, ensuring transparency about the risks of his career.

Victor Glover

Victor Glover, 49, another Navy veteran, will pilot the Orion spacecraft. A California native and father of four daughters, Glover was working as a legislative advisor in the US Senate when he was selected by NASA in 2013. Initially aspiring to be a police officer, his perspective shifted after witnessing a Space Shuttle launch, leading him to dream of becoming a pilot. He will make history as the first Black man—and person of color—to travel to the Moon, having previously participated in a long-duration mission to the ISS in 2020.

Christina Koch

Christina Koch, 47, will be the first woman to participate in a lunar mission. Selected by NASA in 2013, Koch has a diverse background as an engineer and seasoned explorer in extreme environments, including Antarctica. She has long aspired to be an astronaut, inspired by the iconic "Earthrise" image from the Apollo 8 mission. Koch holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman at 328 days and was part of the first all-female spacewalk.

Jeremy Hansen

Completing the crew is Canadian Jeremy Hansen, 50, who will be the first non-American to fly around the Moon. After serving as a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Hansen joined the Canadian Space Agency in 2009. He has worked as a liaison with the ISS and trained new astronaut classes. A photograph of Neil Armstrong on the Moon inspired his passion for space exploration, and the Artemis 2 mission will mark his first journey away from Earth, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

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