Artemis II NASA Pilot Played College Football and Wrestled

Victor Glover, one of the astronauts on the historic Artemis II mission, was once a college athlete at Cal Poly.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 1:07pm

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One of the astronauts on NASA's Artemis II mission to the moon, Victor Glover, previously played college football and wrestled at the NCAA Division I level for Cal Poly. Glover, 49, is making history as the first Black astronaut to travel around the moon.

Why it matters

Glover's background as a college athlete demonstrates his ability to rise to the occasion and work as part of a team, skills that are crucial for the high-stakes Artemis II mission. His presence on the crew also represents an important milestone for diversity in the space program.

The details

Glover played one season of college football at the old Division I-AA level for Cal Poly and was also a wrestler for the university. He is now one of four astronauts on the 10-day Artemis II mission, which is the first crewed flight to the moon in over 50 years and a crucial step towards NASA's goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028.

  • Glover played college football and wrestled at Cal Poly in the late 1990s.
  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 2, 2026.

The players

Victor Glover

A 49-year-old NASA astronaut who is the first Black astronaut to travel around the moon. He previously played college football and wrestled at the NCAA Division I level for Cal Poly.

Victor Glover Sr.

The father of Victor Glover, who expressed excitement about his son's historic mission to the moon.

Cal Poly

The university where Victor Glover played college football and wrestled in the late 1990s.

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What they’re saying

“This is truly my original launch pad. Cal Poly is the reason that I've been able to do some amazing things.”

— Victor Glover, NASA Astronaut

“He's been working hard along with the rest of the crew for the last three years getting ready for this, and now it's really here. That's been the part we've been trying to absorb... the time is finally here for this to happen, and we're all excited to have the chance to witness it.”

— Victor Glover Sr., Father of Victor Glover

What’s next

NASA is hoping the Artemis II mission will help confirm key logistics to enable further moon and space travel, with the goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028.

The takeaway

Victor Glover's background as a college athlete has prepared him well for the high-stakes Artemis II mission, demonstrating the value of diverse experiences and backgrounds in the space program. His presence on the crew also represents an important milestone for diversity and representation in spaceflight.