First manned lunar exploration in 52 years, commander’s determination

“All I can think about these days is the moon.”

Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman said this in an interview held at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center. Artemis 2, which he will command, is a historic mission to send humans to lunar orbit for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. This mission, which will have four astronauts on board and circle the moon for 10 days before returning to Earth, is scheduled to be launched after April 1, 2025.

Wiseman is a retired Navy colonel and pilot who was deployed twice to the Middle East. He also worked as a test pilot at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, and was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009. In 2014, a long-term stay mission was performed on the International Space Station (ISS).

A leader who overcame personal trials

Wiseman's NASA career contains a special personal story. After his wife, Carol, who was a neonatal intensive care nurse, passed away from cancer in 2020, he became a single parent raising two children.

"Despite his numerous professional accomplishments, Wiseman says that raising his children alone was both his greatest challenge and most rewarding," his official NASA bio reads. He also spoke candidly about the tension he felt before announcing the Artemis 2 crew.

A diverse crew that ‘makes history’

The composition of the Artemis 2 crew is historical in itself. NASA pilot Victor Glover becomes the first black person to leave low Earth orbit, and mission specialist Christina Koch becomes the first woman to leave low Earth orbit. Jeremy Hanson of the Canadian Space Agency will become the first non-American astronaut to enter lunar orbit.

“Only four people on the planet have this opportunity, and I’m lucky to be one of them,” said Wiseman. “It’s an honor to fly with Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hanson.”

Technical challenge toward unknown territory

The core of the mission is a series of combustion maneuvers that take the mission further and further away from Earth. “The most important thing is the lunar in-orbit (TLI) burn,” Wiseman explained. “At this moment, we decide to stay away from Earth for eight days.”

The technical challenges are significant. Upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, it reaches a speed of Mach 39, travels approximately 400,000 kilometers away from the Earth, and communication with the Earth is completely lost for 45 minutes on the far side of the Moon.

“How do you prepare your family for this risk? It’s honestly difficult,” Wiseman acknowledged. “But while my teenage daughters understand the risks, they also see the value of human exploration, human creativity, and humanity’s desire to see what lies beyond those mountains.”

The success of Artemis 2 will pave the way for the first manned lunar landing since the Apollo era, planned for Artemis 4 in 2028.