NASA reveals first crew for next moon mission in 2024
Another journey to the moon is set to begin in 2024, featuring the first crew under NASA's Artemis II program.
The crew, consisting of three astronauts from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), in an eight-day mission around the moon "to establish a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration."
According to a release, NASA and CSA announced the news at the Ellington Field event held on April 3 near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA.
The crew consists of NASA astronauts, namely Commander Reid Wiseman, who will join Artemis II as his second trip into space. He was a former flight engineer in the International Station for Expedition 41 from May through November 2014. Joining him is Pilot Victor Glover, who served as a pilot on NASA’s 168-day mission, dubbed the SpaceX Crew-1, which landed May 2, 2021.
Completing the crew is Specialist I Christina Hammock Koch, who was formerly a flight engineer for Expedition 59, 60, and 61. She has set a record "for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with a total of 328 days in space and participated in the first all-female spacewalks," and CSA astronaut and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen who will have his first flight to space. He previously served as a colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and is a former fighter pilot.
“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity's crew,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in the statement. "They represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation.”
“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission," said Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson. "All four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all."
Prior to their take-off, the project will have its flight test to check on the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems and validate the necessary techniques to enable humans to live and work in deep space.
The crew is expected to travel more than 2.2 million kilometers (1.4 million miles) exploring the moon, aiming for the closest lunar approach since the Apollo 17 mission.
If successful, Artemis II will be followed by the Artemis III mission, which is expected to be launched in 2025. It will include landing on the moon's surface.
NASA first started its moon explorations in 1972 under NASA's Apollo Programme. So far, 12 astronauts have set foot on the moon—all were white men.