Artemis II astronauts move to new roles after historic lunar mission
The four astronauts have entered emeritus, leadership and advisory positions with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency.
The four crew members of the Artemis II mission have left active astronaut duty. Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover are now NASA emeritus astronauts, while Mission Specialist Christina Koch is moving into a senior engineering role. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen has retired from active duty with the CSA. The group completed a nearly 10-day lunar flyby in April 2026, testing spacecraft systems for future moon landings.
Wiseman transitioned to the emeritus program in September. He is no longer eligible for spaceflight but will continue to share his experience with NASA personnel. The agency said his knowledge will be especially valuable as it prepares for the Artemis III mission and future lunar flights. The emeritus program allows former astronauts to mentor current employees while pursuing other opportunities.
Koch will become NASA's acting deputy chief engineer on Nov. 1. She will help oversee technical standards and engineering efforts across the agency's programs. This move places her in management astronaut status, which makes her ineligible for future spaceflight assignments.
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Glover, who also became an emeritus astronaut in September, has taken a full-time leadership role at California Polytechnic State University. He will advise university leaders, help develop strategic partnerships and support programs in engineering, aerospace and artificial intelligence. Glover will also serve as a university ambassador to inspire future STEM students. Hansen is pursuing new professional opportunities after retiring from active CSA duty. He continues to serve as a reservist in the Royal Canadian Air Force and will remain an ambassador for Canada's space program and exploration efforts.
The Artemis II mission tested the Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System rocket and life-support systems during a flight around the moon. Its success paves the way for Artemis III, scheduled for launch in 2027 with a different crew. That mission will test rendezvous and docking operations in low Earth orbit with commercial lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Artemis III will not land on the moon but will test systems needed for Artemis IV. NASA currently identifies Artemis IV as the mission intended to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028.