Meet the Crew of Artemis II: Humanity’s Next Journey Around the Moon

by YOUxTalks | Sep 26, 2025 | Technology & AI

For the first time in more than 50 years, humans are preparing to fly around the Moon. Artemis II, the second mission of NASA’s Artemis program, will launch as early as February 2026 and send four astronauts on a 10-day journey beyond low-Earth orbit. This mission will be the first crewed test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft and the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

The Artemis II crew has named their spacecraft “Integrity”, a symbol of unity and trust for humanity’s return to deep space. The mission will pave the way for future lunar landings and, ultimately, human exploration of Mars.

Reid Wiseman – Commander

A former naval aviator and test pilot, Reid Wiseman will lead the Artemis II crew. He previously spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station in 2014 and later served as Chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office.

Wiseman hopes Artemis II will inspire the world the way Apollo did:

“We will see things that no human has ever seen. This is a tiny step toward a sustained presence on the Moon and, eventually, Mars.”

Despite his impressive career, he says his greatest challenge was raising his two daughters as a widowed father. Now, he leads a crew united by the vision of exploration for all humanity.

Victor Glover – Pilot

Victor Glover is a U.S. Navy captain, test pilot, and NASA astronaut selected in 2013. He previously piloted the Crew Dragon on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the ISS in 2020, becoming the first African American astronaut to live on the station for an extended stay.

On Artemis II, Glover will become the first Black astronaut to travel to the Moon’s vicinity. Known by his call sign IKE (“I Know Everything”), he holds three master’s degrees in engineering and military studies.

“It is in our nature to explore. We push ourselves to learn who we are, where we are, and what our place in the universe is.”

Christina Koch – Mission Specialis

An engineer turned astronaut, Christina Koch holds the record for the longest spaceflight by a woman—328 consecutive days aboard the ISS in 2019. She also participated in the first all-female spacewalk.

Koch will become the first woman to travel to the Moon’s vicinity. Inspired by the iconic “Earthrise” photo from Apollo 8, she has carried that vision since childhood:

“The fact that it was a human behind that lens made the picture profound. The Moon is not just a symbol—it’s a beacon for science and for understanding where we came from.”

Outside of spaceflight, Koch is an adventurer—her hobbies include surfing, ice climbing, backpacking, and photography.

Jeremy Hansen – Mission Specialist (CSA)

Representing Canada, Jeremy Hansen is a Royal Canadian Air Force colonel and fighter pilot. This will be his first spaceflight, making him the first non-American astronaut to fly to the Moon.

Hansen has trained astronauts at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and is a passionate advocate for international cooperation in space. His message is one of unity:

“The Artemis missions inspire not just one nation, but the entire world. Nations everywhere are coming together to take this giant leap.”

He enjoys sailing, mountain biking, and rock climbing—and is known for his calm leadership and clear vision of teamwork.

Why Artemis II Matters

Artemis II is more than a symbolic return to lunar space. It will:

Test Orion’s life support and systems with humans aboard.
Enable new lunar observations, with astronauts viewing regions never seen by human eyes.
Study human health in deep space, vital for future Mars missions.
Inspire a new generation, just as Apollo did in the 1960s.

The mission also addresses technical challenges—most notably improvements to Orion’s heat shield, which showed unexpected wear during Artemis I. The crew will also test rendezvous operations with the rocket’s upper stage and practice long-duration operations in deep space.