NASA's Artemis II Pilot Focuses on Mission, Not Spotlight

Victor Glover Jr. prepares for historic moon mission with a mindset of duty and responsibility over personal glory.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:46pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As the pilot of the upcoming Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight to orbit the moon in over 50 years, Victor Glover Jr. is taking a measured approach that prioritizes the success of the mission over personal recognition. Glover, a veteran astronaut who previously spent 168 days aboard the International Space Station, is determined to 'pass the baton' to the next generation of explorers rather than seek the spotlight for himself.

Why it matters

Glover's humble and service-oriented mindset stands in contrast to the spectacle that often surrounds modern spaceflight. His focus on duty and responsibility over personal achievement reflects a deeper calling to advance humanity's exploration of space in a sustainable way, setting the stage for future Artemis missions and lunar exploration.

The details

As pilot of Artemis II, Glover will be part of the first crewed mission to orbit the moon since the Apollo program. Rather than being awed by the historic nature of the flight, Glover says he deliberately avoids 'daydreaming' about the significance, instead keeping his focus on the task at hand. He believes the mission's success should be measured not by personal triumph, but by the ability to 'pass the baton' to the next generation of astronauts and space explorers.

  • Glover previously served as pilot on the Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station, spending 168 days in orbit in 2020-2021.
  • Artemis II is scheduled to launch in 2024, marking the first crewed mission to orbit the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972.

The players

Victor J. Glover Jr.

The pilot of the upcoming Artemis II mission, Glover is a veteran astronaut who previously spent 168 days aboard the International Space Station. He is taking a measured approach focused on duty and responsibility over personal recognition.

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who acknowledged Glover's humble and grounded perspective, saying 'That was awesome, man.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I actually spend a lot of time keeping myself from thinking beyond the mission on purpose. When I start to daydream about those things … I really want to focus and give my all to this task.”

— Victor Glover Jr., Artemis II Pilot

“All astronauts start a mission with one goal — to not mess it up.”

— Victor Glover Jr., Artemis II Pilot

“This mission is much more about duty and responsibility. So we can pass the baton off for this campaign called Artemis with its lofty goals.”

— Victor Glover Jr., Artemis II Pilot

“And then we want to back out and disappear while the Artemis III crew stands in front of this microphone.”

— Victor Glover Jr., Artemis II Pilot

“That was awesome, man.”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis II Commander

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in 2024, marking the first crewed flight to orbit the moon since the Apollo program ended in 1972. After the successful completion of Artemis II, the Artemis III mission will follow, with the goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface.

The takeaway

Victor Glover's humble and service-oriented approach to the historic Artemis II mission reflects a deeper commitment to advancing space exploration in a sustainable way, rather than seeking personal glory. His focus on duty and responsibility over individual achievement sets an example of selfless leadership that will help pave the way for future lunar exploration and the continued expansion of human presence in space.