Next Astronauts to Visit the Moon

The Artemis II Crew was announced earlier this month. Meet the federal employees who will take humanity back to the moon after 5 decades.

On Monday, April 10th, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Texas, the four-man crew for the Artemis II mission was announced. The exercise will brings humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission, which took place at the end of 1972 – now more than 50 years ago. All four members of the newly unveiled crew were all born after that last Apollo mission.


Are you a NASA employee or work at another federal agency? Don’t miss our no-cost webinars on retirement planning and your benefits!


After the unmanned Artemis I mission successfully completed its 25-day journey to the moon’s orbit and back, the US Space Agency began gearing up for the next mission, which will include people and is penciled-in for a November 2024 launch. The four individuals will run a 10-day test flight consisting of several experiments and safety checks. Should all go according to plan, it will prove the viability of both the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and the Orion spaceship’s life support systems. This in turn will allow NASA and SpaceX to continue working toward the lofty goals of both establishing a long-term presence on the Earth’s natural satellite and bringing people safely to the red planet.

Meet the Crew

The Artemis II mission’s crew will include:

  • Richard Wisemann, Commander. In 2014, he spent 165 days in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as a flight engineer. He was born in Baltimore, MD and also received his master’s degree there – from Johns Hopkins University.
  • Victor Glover, Pilot. Set to become the first black person on the moon, Glover has 168 days of experience in outer space. He flew the SpaceX Crew I in May 2021. Born in California, he received his master’s from the US Air Force’s ‘Air University,’ served in “operation Iraqi freedom,” and worked as a staff member for the late John McCain in 2013.
  • Christina H. Koch, Mission Specialist 1. She has participated in the first all-female spacewalk and clocked the longest spaceflight for a woman at 328 days, which she accomplished from March 14, 2019, to February 6, 2020. Koch will be able to add ‘first woman on the moon’ to her impressive resume after the Artemis II is complete. Born in Michigan, she received two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s at North Carolina State University.
  • Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist 2. The only Canadian on the crew, and ready to be the first Canadian to visit the lunar surface. He represents the CSA (Canadian Space Agency) unlike the other 3 crewmembers, who are from NASA. Although he has never left our planet’s atmosphere, he does have experience as both a “cavenaut” and an “aquanaut.” He completed cave training off the coast of Sardinia (the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea) in 2013. Hansen also participated in a 7-day undersea exploration mission in 2014 off the coast of the Florida Keys.

----

Until Next Time,

Benefits Ben, STWS

The information has been obtained from sources considered reliable but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Serving Those Who Serve writers  and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy suggested. Every investor’s situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon before making any investment or financial decision. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. While we are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. **

Next Astronauts to Visit the Moon

NASA News: The Next Astronauts to Visit the Moon