NASA's Artemis II marks a historic return to crewed lunar missions, bringing together a team of seasoned astronauts and one first-time flyer for a journey around the Moon and back.
The four-member crew reflects a mix of deep spaceflight experience and international collaboration, including three U.S. astronauts and one Canadian highlighting the global nature of modern space exploration.
Mission commander Reid Wiseman brings extensive experience from his 165-day mission aboard the International Space Station in 2014.
A former U.S. Navy test pilot, Wiseman later served as NASA's chief astronaut, making him a natural choice to lead Artemis II. His leadership will be critical as the mission pushes beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in decades.
Pilot Victor Glover spent 168 days in space during the 2020 Crew-1 mission the first operational astronaut flight aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
A veteran naval aviator and test pilot, Glover has flown more than 40 aircraft and conducted multiple spacewalks. He will also make history as the first Black astronaut to take part in a lunar mission.
Christina Koch holds the record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a woman, spending 328 days aboard the ISS.
An electrical engineer and physicist, Koch also participated in the first all-female spacewalks and conducted research missions in Antarctica. She is set to become the first woman to travel to the Moon.
Jeremy Hansen will be making his first spaceflight on Artemis II but his role is no less historic.
A colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Hansen is the first Canadian and first non-American astronaut selected for a lunar mission. His inclusion underscores Canada's long-standing contributions to space exploration, particularly in robotics used on the ISS.
Artemis II is not just a return to the Moon it represents a new era of inclusive and international space exploration. The mission will test critical systems needed for future lunar landings, including those planned under NASA's broader Artemis programme.
With a diverse and highly experienced crew, the mission is expected to lay the groundwork for humanity's next giant leap and a sustained presence beyond Earth orbit.
(with inputs from Reuters)