Space Journey: A New Crew Heads for the Moon

The crew set to orbit the Moon this year marks a stark contrast from the Apollo astronauts of 1969. Their composition—a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian—mirrors the diversity that now defines NASA’s space program.

Mission Leadership

• Commander Reid Wiseman
• 50‑year‑old former Navy captain and widower.
• Faces the dual challenge of piloting a spacecraft while juggling single‑parent responsibilities.
• His daughters, once uninterested in his career, now support him and help maintain focus on the mission’s significance.

Key Flight Personnel

• Pilot Victor Glover
• 49‑year‑old Navy captain and one of NASA’s few Black astronauts.
• Uses music from the Apollo era to reflect on past triumphs and lessons, aiming to inspire future crews scheduled for a 2028 lunar landing.

• Mission Specialist Christina Koch
• Electrical engineer, ISS veteran, record‑holder for women’s spaceflight.
• Proven endurance in long orbital stays; ready to support Canada’s first lunar emissary.

International Collaboration

• Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen
• Former fighter pilot and physicist.
• Makes his space debut after growing up on an Ontario farm, now contemplating the stark reality of space travel versus Earth‑bound expectations.

Mission Scope

• The crew will not land on or orbit the Moon; instead, they will travel deeper into space than any Apollo mission.
• Their return will offer unprecedented views of the far side of the Moon, setting a visual and scientific foundation for future surface explorers.