Artemis II Astronauts Name Lunar Craters After Loved Ones

Continuing Apollo tradition, crew seeks approval for personal crater names

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:23pm

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A bold, abstract painting in soft earth tones featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, conveying the personal connection between the Artemis II astronauts and the moon they explored.The Artemis II crew's proposal to name lunar craters after their loved ones continues a longstanding tradition of personalizing space exploration.Houston Today

The Artemis II astronauts, now returning home from the moon, have proposed deeply personal names for a pair of lunar craters, continuing a tradition started by the Apollo 8 crew. The astronauts are seeking permission to officially name the craters after their loved ones.

Why it matters

Naming lunar features after loved ones is a longstanding tradition dating back to the Apollo missions, allowing astronauts to leave a personal mark on the moon. This practice helps humanize the space program and connect the public to the personal stories of those venturing into space.

The details

During their recent mission, the Artemis II crew identified two unnamed lunar craters and requested to name them after their own family members. This follows in the footsteps of the Apollo 8 astronauts, who named craters after their wives in 1968.

  • The Artemis II astronauts proposed the crater names earlier this week.
  • The Apollo 8 crew named craters after their wives in 1968.

The players

Artemis II astronauts

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission, the first crewed Artemis flight to orbit the moon.

Apollo 8 astronauts

The crew of NASA's Apollo 8 mission, the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the moon in 1968.

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What’s next

NASA must approve the Artemis II astronauts' proposed crater names before they can be officially designated.

The takeaway

The tradition of naming lunar features after loved ones helps connect the public to the personal stories of astronauts, humanizing the space program and allowing them to leave a lasting mark on the moon.