The personal items the Artemis II crew are taking to the Moon

Four astronauts are set to join the ranks of the most scrutinized crew since the Apollo missions. Their upcoming journey will mark the first time humans orbit the Moon in over five decades, paving the way for future explorations. The team comprises three NASA astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch—as well as Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. Beyond their expertise in aviation and science, they balance professional ambitions with personal responsibilities, facing the dual challenges of space travel and family life.

Reid Wiseman: A Commander’s Perspective

Wiseman, a former US Navy test pilot, transitioned to space exploration after a six-month stint as a flight engineer on Expedition 40. Though he describes a lifelong passion for flight, he admits to a fear of heights on Earth. As commander of Artemis II, he leads the second Orion mission and the first lunar orbiting flight in nearly half a century. His personal journey includes raising two teenage daughters alone after losing his wife to cancer in 2020. He calls this role “my greatest challenge and most rewarding phase,” though he has not kept his children in the dark about the risks involved.

“Here’s where the will is, here’s where the trust documents are, and if anything happens to me, here’s what’s going to happen to you… That’s part of this life.”

Wiseman plans to carry a small notepad for the mission, a tool for capturing reflections during their voyage. He emphasizes that Artemis II is a collective effort, highlighting the teamwork of his crewmates. “They want to go do this mission, they’re driven, they’re humble,” he says, hoping their flight will be remembered as a stepping stone toward lunar and Martian colonization.

Christina Koch: A Legacy of Exploration

Christina Koch, an engineer and physicist, joined NASA in 2013 and set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman in 2019, spending 328 days on the International Space Station. Her mission included participating in the first all-female spacewalk, a milestone she attributes to a childhood memory. As a child, she displayed a poster of the Earthrise image from Apollo 8, which inspired her to pursue a career in space. “The Moon was not just a symbol for thinking about our place in the Universe, it is a beacon for science and understanding where we came from,” she reflects.

“The fact that it was a human behind that lens made that picture so much more profound and changed the way we thought of our own home.”

Koch’s personal item for Artemis II is a collection of handwritten notes from loved ones, a tactile reminder of Earth. Her husband keeps the mission as a topic of discussion, curious about key moments and risks. “He’s not going to be able to ring me and ask where something is in the house,” she jokes, noting that the Artemis mission differs from her ISS experience in its isolation.

Jeremy Hansen: A New Chapter in Space

Jeremy Hansen, a former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot and physicist, has been part of the Canadian Space Agency since 2009. Though he has yet to fly in space, he has trained new astronauts at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre, becoming the first Canadian to oversee this program. A family man with three children, he finds solace in hobbies like sailing, rock climbing, and mountain biking.

Hansen’s role in Artemis II underscores his adaptability. While his career has been rooted in aviation, the mission represents a new frontier. The personal items he brings may include mementos from his family, symbolizing the connection between his earthly life and the lunar adventure ahead.