Artemis II Mission Includes Astronaut Victor Glover, Former Cal Poly Football Player

Glover will pilot the spacecraft on the 10-day mission to orbit the moon.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:20pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly structured abstract painting in earthy tones, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the complex forces and concepts of the Artemis II space mission.The Artemis II mission, with its diverse crew and historic significance, represents a new era of space exploration that builds upon the legacy of past NASA missions.Cape Canaveral Today

NASA's Artemis II mission, set to launch a crew to orbit the moon, will include former Cal Poly football and wrestling athlete Victor Glover. Glover, who played defensive back for the Mustangs in 1996, is the first Black astronaut to reach high orbit on a NASA launch and could become the first to travel to the moon if the mission is successful.

Why it matters

Glover's participation in the Artemis II mission represents an important milestone for diversity in the space program, as he will be the first Black astronaut to reach the moon. The mission also aims to build on the legacy of the Apollo program and inspire a new generation.

The details

Glover, 49, graduated from Cal Poly in 1999 with a degree in general engineering after playing football and wrestling for the Mustangs. He went on to become a Navy aviator and was selected as an astronaut in 2013. In 2021, he was the first Black astronaut to serve on a full-duration International Space Station crew. As part of the Artemis II mission, Glover will pilot the Orion spacecraft that will send the crew to the vicinity of the moon.

  • The Artemis II mission launched successfully on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • The Orion spacecraft will orbit the moon for 10 days before returning to Earth.

The players

Victor Glover

A 49-year-old former college football player at Cal Poly who is now an astronaut on the Artemis II mission, set to become the first Black astronaut to travel to the moon.

Andre Patterson

The head coach at Cal Poly during Glover's time on the football team, who praised Glover's work ethic and technical skills as a player.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that is leading the Artemis II mission to orbit the moon.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He may not have been the fastest guy out there or the most athletic guy out there, but he was going to succeed since he was the best technician out there. That's who he is at his core.”

— Andre Patterson, Former Cal Poly Head Coach

“If you think about when we did this, the first time in Apollo, 1968, it was tough time in the country. And I hope that we can create a touch point for our generation that's equal to or maybe there's a path to be even greater than because it's current and it's ours.”

— Victor Glover

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to return the Orion spacecraft and its crew safely to Earth after a 10-day journey around the moon.

The takeaway

Victor Glover's participation in the Artemis II mission as the first Black astronaut to reach high orbit and potentially travel to the moon represents an important milestone for diversity and inclusion in the U.S. space program. His background as a former college athlete also highlights the diverse paths that can lead to careers in science and exploration.