April 2026 — Artemis II
The Crew
Four astronauts. Nine days. 252,760 miles from Earth. The first humans to fly a lunar trajectory in over 50 years.
252,760 mi
From Earth — new record
4,067 mi
From the lunar surface
54 min
Total solar eclipse viewed
9 days
Mission duration
Mission Crew
Meet the Astronauts
One commander, one pilot, and two mission specialists — representing NASA and the Canadian Space Agency.
Reid Wiseman
NASA
Career Naval Aviator · Former Chief of the Astronaut Office
Reid Wiseman led the Artemis II crew as Commander — the first humans to fly a lunar trajectory in over 50 years. A career naval aviator with more than 2,500 flight hours, he previously commanded ISS Expedition 41 and served as Chief of the Astronaut Office before being selected for Artemis II.
“When you see Earth from a quarter million miles out — this small, impossibly beautiful thing alone in the dark — you feel the weight of every life on it.”
— Reid Wiseman, post-mission debrief, April 2026
Mission Highlights
- Commander of Artemis II — first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo
- Flew 252,760 miles from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 distance record
- Former Chief of the Astronaut Office (2020–2023)
- ISS Expedition 41 commander, 167 days in space
- Proposed crater name "Carol" in honor of his late wife
2,500+
Flight Hours
176+
Days in Space
252,760 mi
Distance
Victor Glover
NASA
F/A-18 Test Pilot · Long-Duration ISS Veteran
Victor Glover manually piloted Orion during critical proximity and docking operations on Artemis II. An elite test pilot with over 3,000 flight hours, he brings rare spaceflight experience from his 168-day ISS mission aboard Expedition 64, where he conducted four spacewalks.
“Flying Orion a quarter million miles from home and watching Earth shrink to a marble — that is the moment you understand why exploration matters.”
— Victor Glover, NASA press interview, April 2026
Mission Highlights
- Pilot of Artemis II — manually flew Orion during proximity operations
- ISS Expedition 64 — 168 days aboard the station
- Conducted 4 spacewalks totaling 27+ hours of EVA time
- First Black astronaut on a long-duration ISS mission
- F/A-18 test pilot — over 3,000 total flight hours
177+
Days in Space
4 EVAs
Spacewalks
3,000+
Flight Hours
Christina Koch
NASA
Record-Breaking ISS Veteran · Space Physiology Expert
Christina Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman — 328 days aboard the ISS. She was part of the first all-female spacewalk with Jessica Meir in October 2019. On Artemis II, her deep expertise in long-duration spaceflight physiology was critical to crew health monitoring across 9 days of deep-space travel.
“I spent almost a year in space preparing my body and mind for the unknown. Nothing prepared me for watching Earth set below the lunar horizon on Artemis II — that view has no parallel.”
— Christina Koch, Smithsonian interview, May 2026
Mission Highlights
- Longest single spaceflight by a woman — 328 consecutive days (2019–2020)
- Participated in the first all-female spacewalk (with Jessica Meir, Oct 18, 2019)
- 6 total spacewalks during ISS tour — 42+ hours EVA time
- Expert in space physiology and long-duration mission research
- First woman on a crewed lunar trajectory, Artemis II
328 days
Longest Mission
6 EVAs
Spacewalks
42+ hours
EVA Time
Jeremy Hansen
Canadian Space Agency
CSA Astronaut · First Non-American on a Lunar Mission
Jeremy Hansen made history as the first non-American astronaut to fly on a lunar mission. A former CF-18 fighter pilot and CSA astronaut selected in 2009, he represents Canada's pivotal role in the Artemis program — including the Canadarm3 robotic system that will serve the Lunar Gateway.
“Sixty-one nations signed the Artemis Accords. The world was watching. I didn't fly for Canada — I flew for all of us. That responsibility has no words.”
— Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency debrief, April 2026
Mission Highlights
- First non-American astronaut on a lunar mission in history
- Represents Canada's Canadarm3 contribution to the Lunar Gateway
- Former CF-18 Hornet fighter pilot — 3,000+ flight hours
- CSA astronaut since 2009; 15+ years of mission preparation
- Publicly known for championing international cooperation in space
3,000+
Flight Hours
15+ years
CSA Tenure
1st non-American
Milestone
Historic Firsts
Records Broken
Farthest Humans in 50+ Years
Artemis II broke the Apollo 13 distance record, reaching 252,760 miles from Earth — the farthest any humans had traveled since 1970.
First Non-American on a Lunar Mission
Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency became the first non-American astronaut to fly on a lunar mission, marking a milestone in international space cooperation.
Two New Craters Discovered
The crew identified two previously unnamed craters. They proposed "Integrity" (after their Orion capsule) and "Carol" (named by Commander Wiseman after his late wife).
54-Minute Total Solar Eclipse from the Moon
Orion positioned the crew on the far side of the Moon where they witnessed a 54-minute total solar eclipse — a sight no humans had ever seen.