NASA selects four astronauts for historic moon mission, first crewed lunar flyby in five decades. The quartet of space travelers set to embark on the Artemis II journey are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
Commander Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will lead the mission as part of his 47th birthday. He's no stranger to space travel having spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station in 2014. Wiseman served as chief of the astronaut office before stepping down last November.
Meanwhile, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will become the first Canadian to venture into deep space. The 47-year-old fighter pilot was handpicked for NASA's astronaut training program back in 2009 and recently took charge of training a new class of astronauts.
The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in human spaceflight, with all four crew members boasting diverse backgrounds. The journey is slated to last approximately 10 days, sending the team on an unprecedented journey beyond the moon's orbit.
The success of this mission paves the way for future endeavors, including the historic Artemis III lunar landing and NASA's pursuit of establishing a permanent lunar outpost. The agency has been working towards this goal for over a decade.
According to Director Vanessa Wyche, the selection process focused on diversity among the astronauts. "I can tell you, they still all have the right stuff," she said. Koch noted that her colleagues were informed of their selection just weeks prior to the announcement, with Wiseman saying he was left "speechless" by the offer.
The interview with the four astronauts is set to air on CNN's morning news program on Tuesday at 6 am ET, providing a glimpse into the historic mission ahead.
Commander Reid Wiseman, a decorated naval aviator and test pilot, will lead the mission as part of his 47th birthday. He's no stranger to space travel having spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station in 2014. Wiseman served as chief of the astronaut office before stepping down last November.
Meanwhile, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen will become the first Canadian to venture into deep space. The 47-year-old fighter pilot was handpicked for NASA's astronaut training program back in 2009 and recently took charge of training a new class of astronauts.
The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in human spaceflight, with all four crew members boasting diverse backgrounds. The journey is slated to last approximately 10 days, sending the team on an unprecedented journey beyond the moon's orbit.
The success of this mission paves the way for future endeavors, including the historic Artemis III lunar landing and NASA's pursuit of establishing a permanent lunar outpost. The agency has been working towards this goal for over a decade.
According to Director Vanessa Wyche, the selection process focused on diversity among the astronauts. "I can tell you, they still all have the right stuff," she said. Koch noted that her colleagues were informed of their selection just weeks prior to the announcement, with Wiseman saying he was left "speechless" by the offer.
The interview with the four astronauts is set to air on CNN's morning news program on Tuesday at 6 am ET, providing a glimpse into the historic mission ahead.
! It's amazing how NASA is pushing forward with these Artemis missions and it's awesome that they're focusing on diversity among the astronauts too 
. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all so talented and have such unique backgrounds - I'm loving this mix of skills and experience! 
The fact that Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian in deep space is a big deal for Canada, I guess Canadians will be rooting for him strong 
. And 10 days is just long enough to get excited but not so long that you're bored out of your mind 
. This mission is going to pave the way for some pretty cool things down the line...
I mean, we've been waiting for something like this for ages, and it's finally happening. The fact that they're choosing people from all walks of life is awesome – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all total rockstars in their own right. I'm stoked to see a Canadian get the chance to go deep space, Jeremy! 
And who knows, maybe this whole Artemis II mission will inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers to pursue careers in space exploration.
The thought sends shivers down my spine. And it's not just about the tech or the science; this is humanity expanding itself into the unknown. We're basically saying, "Hey, we're gonna try to be a multi-planetary species!" That's some pretty epic stuff right there. 
! They all seem super qualified and stuff, but... wait, no, I mean, have you seen their ages? Commander Reid Wiseman is 47?! That's like, ancient in space years 
. And Jeremy Hansen is a fighter pilot, which is cool, I guess, but can't he just be a regular astronaut for once?
. Christina Koch seems like a total boss, and Victor Glover has been to space before, so... yeah, that's good 
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. Like, how much is NASA really planning to spend on this Artemis III lunar landing? It seems kinda crazy 
. And have they thought about the long-term effects of all that space travel on the astronauts' bodies? 
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. I guess we'll just have to wait and see... or whatever 
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- Reid Wiseman leading the way, Jeremy Hansen breaking Canadian ground, and Christina Koch & Victor Glover bringing expertise to the table... 
this is one small step for space, one giant leap forward 
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And have you seen Reid Wiseman's face when he got the news? 
. Anyway, I'm super stoked that Canadians are finally getting a spot in deep space - Jeremy Hansen seems like an awesome pick 
. And Reid Wiseman leading the mission is pretty cool too...I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of this historic stuff? 
The diversity among them all is gonna be really interesting to watch unfold, especially with Christina Koch and Victor Glover on board 
. It's crazy to think we're going back to the moon after so long, and it's great that NASA is prioritizing diversity among its astronauts 
. Can't wait to see what they'll accomplish on their 10-day adventure! The fact that Jeremy Hansen will be the first Canadian in deep space is a major win for Canada and the space community 
. This mission is definitely a step towards making human exploration of space more accessible and fun for everyone! 
. I mean, it's amazing that we're finally going back to the moon after all these years, but have we thought through the long-term implications? We're talking about a permanent lunar outpost here - what does that even look like? How are they planning to sustain themselves? And what about the risks involved? These astronauts are literally putting their lives on the line for the sake of science and exploration 
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Canadian pride is real! And 47-year-olds leading the charge? 
. Can't wait to see the interview on CNN, it's gonna be lit 
. And can we talk about the Artemis III lunar landing? The thought of establishing a permanent lunar outpost is mind-blowing 
The training must've been intense. I hope they get some great footage for CNN, can't wait to see the interviews! 
