Meet the first Artemis crew flying to the moon since the Apollo era
AP News • • science
Key Points:
- NASA’s upcoming Artemis lunar mission features a diverse crew including a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian, contrasting with the all-white, male Apollo astronauts chosen for military test pilot experience.
- Commander Reid Wiseman, a widower and retired Navy captain, leads the nearly 10-day mission, balancing the emotional challenge of leaving his teenage daughters with the historic opportunity to fly around the moon.
- Pilot Victor Glover, one of NASA’s few Black astronauts, views his role as a symbol of progress and is focused on preparing for future lunar missions, emphasizing passing the baton to the next generation of astronauts.
- Mission specialist Christina Koch, who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, highlights the historic significance of women flying to the moon and approaches the mission with calm confidence.
- Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen makes his space debut as Canada’s first lunar emissary, acknowledging the mission’s risks while reassuring his family about the likelihood of a safe return.
