NASA's Artemis Crew Prepares for Historic Moon Mission

The diverse team of four astronauts will venture farther into space than any Apollo-era explorers.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:18pm

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NASA's Artemis mission will send a diverse crew of four astronauts on a historic journey around the moon, marking the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years. The team includes a woman, a person of color, and the first Canadian astronaut to travel to the moon, a stark contrast to the all-white, all-male Apollo crews. While they won't land on the lunar surface this time, the Artemis astronauts will venture thousands of miles deeper into space than their predecessors, offering unprecedented views of the moon's far side.

Why it matters

The Artemis mission represents a significant step forward in the diversity and inclusivity of NASA's astronaut corps, reflecting the changing demographics of the United States and Canada. This mission paves the way for future moon landings that will include a more representative group of explorers, inspiring people of all backgrounds to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The details

The four-person Artemis crew is led by Commander Reid Wiseman, a retired Navy captain from Baltimore who lost his wife to cancer in 2020. The pilot is Victor Glover, a Black Navy captain and former combat pilot from California, who sees his presence on the mission as 'a force for good.' The mission specialist is Christina Koch, a North Carolina-born electrical engineer who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Rounding out the crew is Jeremy Hansen, a Canadian fighter pilot and physicist who will become the first Canadian astronaut to travel to the moon.

  • The Artemis mission is scheduled to launch in 2026.
  • The out-and-back journey to the moon will last nearly 10 days.

The players

Reid Wiseman

A retired Navy captain from Baltimore who is leading the Artemis mission. Wiseman was serving as NASA's chief astronaut when he was asked to lead the first lunar trip since 1972.

Victor Glover

A Navy captain, former combat pilot, and one of NASA's few Black astronauts. Glover sees his presence on the mission as 'a force for good.'

Christina Koch

An electrical engineer from North Carolina who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, having spent nearly a year on the International Space Station.

Jeremy Hansen

A Canadian fighter pilot and physicist who will become the first Canadian astronaut to travel to the moon.

NASA

The U.S. space agency leading the Artemis mission, the first crewed lunar flight in over 50 years.

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What they’re saying

“We talked about it and I said, 'Look, of all the people on planet Earth right now, there are four people that are in a position to go fly around the moon,' he said. 'I cannot say no to that opportunity.'”

— Reid Wiseman, Artemis Mission Commander

“I listen to those for perspective,' he said. 'It captures what we did well, what we did poorly.'”

— Victor Glover, Artemis Mission Pilot

“More than any one individual, 'it's about celebrating the fact that we've arrived to this place in history' where women can fly to the moon, she said.”

— Christina Koch, Artemis Mission Specialist

“'Maybe I'm naive, but I don't feel a lot of personal pressure.'”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis Mission Specialist

What’s next

The Artemis crew's out-and-back journey around the moon will pave the way for future moon landings, with a practice docking mission in orbit around Earth scheduled for 2027 and the first crewed lunar landing planned for 2028.

The takeaway

The diverse Artemis crew represents a significant milestone in the history of space exploration, reflecting the changing demographics of the astronaut corps and inspiring people of all backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM fields. This mission lays the groundwork for a new era of lunar exploration that will be more inclusive and representative of the global community.