What mission will the Artemis II astronauts be undertaking?
Who are the Artemis II Astronauts?
Artemis II is the second mission in NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the moon by 2024. The mission is set to launch in 2023 and will be the first crewed mission to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The Crew
The Artemis II crew will consist of four astronauts. These are:
- Jessica Watkins
- Raja Chari
- Nicole Mann
- Frank Rubio
Jessica Watkins
Jessica Watkins is a geologist and former NASA astronaut candidate. She was selected for the Artemis II mission in December 2020. Watkins became an astronaut in 2017 and has not yet been on a mission to space. She previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology and has conducted fieldwork in Antarctica.
Raja Chari
Raja Chari is a former U.S. Air Force colonel and NASA astronaut candidate. He was selected for the Artemis II mission in December 2020. Chari has logged more than 2,500 hours of flight time in his career as a fighter pilot. He previously served as the commander of the 461st Flight Test Squadron and as the director of the F-35 Integrated Test Force.
Nicole Mann
Nicole Mann is a former U.S. Marine Corps major and NASA astronaut candidate. She was selected for the Artemis II mission in August 2018. Mann has not yet been on a mission to space. She previously served as a test pilot in the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet, and EA-6B Prowler aircraft, as well as the T-38 Talon trainer aircraft.
Frank Rubio
Frank Rubio is a former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and NASA astronaut candidate. He was selected for the Artemis II mission in December 2020. Rubio has not yet been on a mission to space. He previously served as an emergency room doctor in the U.S. Army and completed a residency in internal medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center.
Conclusion
The Artemis II mission is set to be an important milestone in NASA’s efforts to send humans back to the moon. The four astronauts selected for the mission have impressive backgrounds and experience in a wide range of fields, from geology to aviation to medicine. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish on this historic mission!