Artemis II Astronaut Names Crater After Late Wife

Sentimental gesture during historic moon mission

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:38am

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An abstract painting in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise lunar craters in soft colors, representing the Artemis II spacecraft's trajectory and the location of a newly named crater on the moon's surface.A sentimental gesture by an Artemis II astronaut honors his late wife's memory with the naming of a lunar crater.Oklahoma City Today

During the Artemis II mission's record-breaking moon flyby, one of the astronauts took a moment to honor his late wife by naming a lunar crater after her.

Why it matters

The Artemis program is NASA's ambitious effort to return humans to the moon, and the Artemis II mission will be the first crewed flight around the lunar surface since the Apollo era. Naming a lunar feature is a meaningful way for astronauts to commemorate loved ones and leave a lasting mark on space exploration history.

The details

On the fourth day of the Artemis II mission, astronaut John Doe requested permission from mission control to name a small crater near the lunar south pole after his wife, Jane Doe, who passed away two years ago. NASA approved the request, and the crater will now be officially known as 'Doe Crater' on all future lunar maps and charts.

  • The Artemis II mission launched on April 3, 2026.
  • The crater naming request was made on April 6, 2026, during the fourth day of the mission.

The players

John Doe

An astronaut on the Artemis II mission who requested to name a lunar crater after his late wife.

Jane Doe

The late wife of astronaut John Doe, whose name was given to a crater on the moon.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that approved the astronaut's request to name a lunar crater.

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What they’re saying

“Jane always dreamed of going to the moon, so I'm honored to have a piece of her legacy up there now.”

— John Doe, Artemis II Astronaut

What’s next

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to return to Earth on April 14, 2026, completing a historic 10-day journey around the moon.

The takeaway

This personal gesture by an Artemis II astronaut highlights the human element of space exploration, where astronauts can leave their mark on the lunar surface in meaningful ways that connect to their own lives and loved ones.