Artemis II Astronauts Name Moon Crater After Commander's Late Wife

The crew dedicated a newly discovered lunar crater to honor Reid Wiseman's spouse, Carroll, who passed away.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 4:51am

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An abstract, geometric painting in muted earth tones depicting the Artemis II mission's journey to the moon, with a prominent lunar crater at the center representing the 'Carroll' crater named by the crew in tribute to their commander's late spouse.The Artemis II astronauts honor their fallen comrade by dedicating a newly discovered lunar crater to the memory of Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll.Cape Canaveral Today

The four astronauts of the Artemis II mission have requested that a previously unnamed lunar crater be named 'Carroll' in honor of Reid Wiseman's late wife, who was a newborn intensive care unit nurse. In a video message, the crew explained the personal significance of the name, with Wiseman visibly emotional as his crewmates embraced him.

Why it matters

This gesture by the Artemis II crew highlights the deep personal bonds that form between astronauts during long-duration space missions, as well as the ways they choose to memorialize loved ones and commemorate their legacies. Naming a lunar feature after Wiseman's wife Carroll is a touching tribute that will permanently mark her life and impact on the mission commander.

The details

During their 10-day trip orbiting the moon, the Artemis II astronauts - Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Jeremy Hansen - discovered a relatively fresh, unnamed crater on the lunar surface. They decided to suggest two names for the crater: 'Integrity', after their spacecraft, and 'Carroll', in honor of Wiseman's late wife. In a video message, Hansen explained the significance of the 'Carroll' name, noting that Wiseman's spouse had 'dedicated her life to helping others as a newborn intensive care unit Registered Nurse'. As Hansen spoke, Wiseman became visibly emotional, with his crewmates embracing him.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026.
  • The astronauts recorded the video message on April 6, 2026, during their 10-day trip orbiting the moon.
  • The crew is scheduled to return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego on April 10, 2026.

The players

Reid Wiseman

The commander of the Artemis II mission, who is raising his two children Katey and Ellie after the passing of his wife Carroll, who worked as a newborn intensive care unit nurse.

Victor Glover

An Artemis II astronaut who was seen embracing Wiseman and wiping away tears during the video message.

Christina Hammock Koch

An Artemis II astronaut who was also seen wiping away tears during the video message.

Jeremy Hansen

An Artemis II astronaut who explained the significance of naming the lunar crater 'Carroll' in the video message.

Carroll

The late wife of astronaut Reid Wiseman, who dedicated her life to working as a newborn intensive care unit nurse.

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What they’re saying

“If you were to look at Orientale on the far side and then draw a line straight up to Ohm on the far side, relatively in the middle is an unnamed crater and we would like to suggest it be called Integrity in the future.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II Astronaut

“And the second one, and especially meaningful for this crew, is a number of years ago, we started this journey and our close-knit astronaut family and we lost a loved one. We lost a loved one, her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katey and Ellie... (The crater is) a bright spot on the moon and we would like to call it Carroll.”

— Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II crew is scheduled to return to Earth on April 10, 2026, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean near the coast of San Diego.

The takeaway

This touching gesture by the Artemis II astronauts to name a lunar crater after Reid Wiseman's late wife Carroll demonstrates the deep personal bonds that form between crew members during long-duration space missions, as well as their desire to honor and memorialize loved ones who have passed. The permanent naming of this crater on the moon will serve as a lasting tribute to Carroll's life and legacy.