NASA names four astronauts for Artemis II lunar mission

NASA has announced the four astronauts who will take part in the Artemis II mission to the moon, which is due to take place in November 2024. Among them are the first person of colour and the first woman to travel to the moon.

The goal of the 10-day mission is to confirm possibilities for humans to live and work in deep space. It is the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence on the moon for science and exploration.

“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars," said NASA spokesperson Bill Nelson. "This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity's crew. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers.” 

The four astronauts are Americans Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch and Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen.

Glover, who has spent approximately 167 days in space and was most recently a pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon in 2020, will be the first person of colour to travel to the moon. Koch, who will be the first woman to travel to the moon, holds the record for the longest single space flight by a woman at 328 days and has completed six spacewalks.

Wiseman served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station in 2014. This will the first trip into space for Hansen, previously a fighter pilot.

(MOH)

_{© PHOTO REUTERS/Go Nakamura}