The four astronauts will be the first to fly NASA’s Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, no later than late 2024.
Today, Monday, NASA revealed the names of the four astronauts who will make a mission around the moon by the end of next year, a woman and three men, on the first trip to the moon (without landing) since the Apollo mission in 1972.
And the pioneers are:
- American Christina Hammock Koch
- American Reed Wiseman (mission commander)
- American Victor Glover
- Canadian Jeremy Hansen
NASA revealed the identity of the astronauts during a ceremony in Houston, home to the country’s astronauts, as well as the control center. “This is the crew of mankind,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
The four astronauts will be the first to fly NASA’s Orion capsule, launching atop a Space Launch System rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, no later than late 2024.
Although the trip will not include landing on the moon, it will be a prelude to another trip dedicated to this matter.
This is the first time that an African American (Victor Glover) and a woman (Christina Hammock Koch) have participated in space flights of this kind, indicating a shift in NASA’s mentality and its greater openness to diversity.
The American Apollo program trained and sent 12 white men on similar missions in the last century.
Christina Koch holds the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. Responding to his selection, Gloves said, “This is a great day. We have a lot to celebrate and it’s a lot more than the four names announced.”
NASA’s new moon program is called Artemis. Late last year, an empty Orion capsule flew to the moon and back for a long-awaited rehearsal. NASA aims to land two astronauts on the moon by 2025, provided the next 10-day lunar launch goes well.
NASA selected 41 active astronauts for the first Artemis crew. Canada had four candidates.
