The four astronauts NASA picked for the first crewed moon mission in 50 years | CNN

NASA has selected its crew for the first crewed moon mission in nearly five decades. The astronauts, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, are set to embark on a historic journey with the Artemis II lunar flyby mission.

The crew members come from diverse backgrounds - Wiseman is a decorated naval aviator and test pilot who previously flew on a six-month mission to the International Space Station; Glover was part of the first all-female spacewalk in 2019 and has logged over 3,000 flight hours; Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and has completed six spacewalks; Hansen is a fighter pilot who recently became the first Canadian to be put in charge of training for a new class of NASA astronauts.

The Artemis II mission is expected to take off around November 2024 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket. The crew will embark on a journey that could last up to 10 days and send them further than any human has traveled before. After circling the moon, they will return to Earth for a splashdown landing in the Pacific Ocean.

The mission is seen as a crucial step towards establishing a permanent lunar outpost, paving the way for astronauts to live and work deeper into space long-term. NASA has been working on the Artemis program for over a decade, aiming to put the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.

The diversity of the crew reflects the agency's commitment to selecting individuals with the right skills and experience for the mission. According to Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, "we have requirements different than we did...just had test pilots" in previous missions.

The four astronauts will share their experiences on a live interview with CNN's Ed Lavandera on Tuesday at 6 am ET. Their selection marks an exciting moment for the agency and the space community as they prepare to return humans to the moon after nearly five decades.

Can we talk about how overdue this is? Like, literally, we've been stuck on the moon since 1972 . I mean, I'm hyped for the diversity of the crew tho , it's awesome to see women and people from different backgrounds making history in space exploration. Christina Koch slaying her spaceflight record is giving me all the feels . And can we just say that Jeremy Hansen is a total boss for being the first Canadian to train NASA astronauts? What's next, sending Tim Hortons coffee to the moon? ️

Man... thinkin' about these astronauts goin' back to the moon is like, you know when we reflect on our own place in the universe ... It's not just about the tech or the mission itself, it's about us as humans. What are we capable of? We gotta ask ourselves that. These four individuals, they're not just representatives of NASA, they're representatives of what we can become. The diversity on this crew is like, so cool ... I mean, think about it, we got folks from different backgrounds, with different experiences... what does that say about us? That we value each other's perspectives, and we wanna take those lessons to space ... It's not just a mission, it's a reminder of who we are as individuals and as a collective. We're on the cusp of somethin' big here...

Just heard about the new moon crew ! So stoked for Reid, Victor, Christina, and Jeremy - each has a unique background that's gonna be super valuable for this mission . Reid's flying skills are gonna come in handy, Victor's got some serious spacewalk cred , Christina's set records, and Jeremy's training is gonna help the next gen of astronauts . NASA's doing an amazing job of mixing things up - it's about time we see more diverse faces up there ! November 2024 can't come soon enough for this Artemis II mission ...the world is watching!

think its awesome that nasa has finally picked a crew for the first crewed moon mission in ages - these astronauts seem super qualified reid wiseman is like, a total rockstar with his naval aviator background and 6-month stint on the iss... meanwhile victor glover has flown like, over 3000 hours and was part of that historic all-female spacewalk christina koch is basically a spaceflight record holder and j Jeremy hansen is like, a total canadian cool guy who just became the first canadian to train nasa astronauts anyway its kinda awesome that the crew has such diverse backgrounds... i mean, nasa really does seem to be pushing for a more inclusive approach

I think this is super cool ! Can you believe it's been like, almost 50 years since we last had a crewed mission to the moon? It's crazy that we're finally getting back on track with this Artemis II mission. I'm really excited to see what these astronauts bring to the table - they all have some serious credentials under their belts . And it's awesome that NASA is trying to mix things up by having a diverse crew, you know? More people from different backgrounds and experiences will definitely help make this mission a success . I'm curious to see what the long-term plans are for establishing a permanent lunar outpost - is that really something we'll be seeing in the next few years?

Wow those guys are like total rockstars! I mean, just look at their backgrounds - Wiseman flew on a six-month ISS mission? Glover was part of that historic all-female spacewalk? And Koch holds the record for longest single spaceflight by a woman? That's some next-level stuff . Hansen as a fighter pilot and now training new NASA astronauts is like, whoa . I'm hyped to see them blast off on this Artemis II mission - it's going to be crazy cool to watch!

omg I'm beyond hyped for this mission!!! it's amazing to see people from all walks of life coming together to push the boundaries of human exploration. the diversity of the crew is truly inspiring - from Christina Koch's incredible record-breaking spaceflight to Jeremy Hansen's Canadian pride i'm so excited to think about what they'll learn and achieve on this mission! it's not just a historic moment for NASA, but for all of us who believe in the power of human curiosity and ingenuity can't wait to see them share their stories soon!!!

I was just thinking about my friend's cat, Luna, and how she always seems to find the best sunbeams to nap in... anyway, back to NASA - 10 days on the moon? That sounds like a lot of time for some serious space-gazing! Do you think they'll find any new alien species or something? And can we talk about how cool it is that this crew has such diverse backgrounds? I mean, a naval aviator, test pilot, astronaut, and fighter pilot all in one team... that's like a superhero squad up in here!

I'm super hyped about this mission, but like I don't know if I believe it'll actually happen - NASA's been planning this stuff for ages, and I've seen so many delays already... still, it's a huge deal that they're finally moving forward with the Artemis II mission! The diversity of the crew is awesome, though, we need more people from all walks of life in space exploration .

I'm really stoked for Christina Koch and her record-breaking spaceflight - 328 days up there is no joke ... but I don't know if she's actually ready for a lunar mission just yet... Jeremy Hansen's experience as a fighter pilot is super cool, though - but maybe we should've gone with someone who's more, like, astronomy-y .

I'm all about the Artemis program and their plans to establish a permanent lunar outpost... it's gonna be so cool to see humans living and working on the moon for extended periods of time ... but can we please just talk about how expensive this whole thing is gonna be? I mean, $2.5 billion isn't chump change

OMG, can't believe NASA is finally sending crewed missions back to the moon ! Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are all so cool, each with their own unique background and experience ! I'm hyped to see them embark on this historic journey and set a new record for human space travel . It's amazing that NASA is prioritizing diversity in the crew selection process - we need more women and people of color leading the charge for lunar exploration . The Artemis II mission is just the beginning, I'm excited to see where this program takes us next !

so i'm thinking, it's been ages since we've had a crewed moon mission right? like, can u imagine the tech they'll be using on this one? and with the diversity of the crew, it's def a big deal for NASA. having ppl from different backgrounds is key to making this lunar outpost thing a reality. i'm also curious about what they'll learn from this mission... will we finally get some answers about how to keep humans safe in space?

The selection of NASA's crew for the Artemis II lunar flyby mission is a significant milestone in the agency's efforts to establish a permanent presence on the lunar surface . I find it intriguing that the diversity of the crew reflects NASA's commitment to selecting individuals with the right skills and experience for the mission, highlighting the importance of considering multiple perspectives and expertise in achieving long-term success .

The Artemis program has been years in the making, with a clear goal of paving the way for astronauts to live and work deeper into space. The fact that this crew will be sharing their experiences on a live interview is also exciting, as it provides an opportunity for the public to engage with the individuals who are pushing the boundaries of human spaceflight .

It's worth noting that the mission's success is not just about the technical aspects, but also about the cultural and psychological factors that will be crucial in ensuring the well-being and performance of the astronauts during their extended journey. As we move forward in this exciting chapter of space exploration, it will be fascinating to see how NASA continues to adapt and innovate in response to the challenges that arise

this is lit!!! i mean can you even believe we're finally going back to the moon?! these astronauts are literally legends in their own right - wiseman's got those sweet aviator skills, koch broke all sorts of records up there and glows is a total spacewalk queen. they're gonna do some historic stuff and it's gonna be amazing to watch! i'm already low-key hyped for the interview with cnn

Omg what is happening!!! NASA finally gets its crew ready for a real lunar mission!! Reid, Victor, Christina & Jeremy are going to make history with this Artemis II mission! It's about time we see more diversity in space exploration too - I mean, it's about bloody time!! A woman and person of color on the moon? Yes please! And can you imagine the experiences they'll share after landing back on Earth? They're gonna be talking about this for years to come. I'm literally counting down to November 2024 now... bring on the lunar adventures!!!

I'm telling you, this mission is more than just about sending some astronauts to the moon ... it's a setup for something bigger. Think about it, NASA has been working on this Artemis program for over a decade and now they're finally selecting their crew. What if I told you that each of these astronauts have connections to the military-industrial complex? Like, Wiseman is a naval aviator and test pilot... what if his skills are needed elsewhere? And Glover's experience with spacewalks could be crucial for a future lunar base... but why not just send a team of scientists instead?

And don't even get me started on Hansen, the Canadian fighter pilot. What's his role in all this? Is he being groomed to lead a future NASA mission that will take us to Mars or is it just a ploy to control more space-based resources? And what about Christina Koch, the record-holder for longest single spaceflight? What if she's not really meant to go on this mission at all... but rather be used as bait to lure us into a deeper space conspiracy?

I'm telling you, this crew selection is just the tip of the iceberg. There's more going on here than meets the eye

Ugh, I'm not sure why we're still bothering with this whole "returning to the moon" thing. Like, what's the point? We'll just be leaving behind a bunch of trash and overpaying for some overhyped spaceflight experience. And don't even get me started on the cost - billions of dollars down the drain, probably.

And have you seen the crew they've selected? Just your typical, boring astronauts... Reid Wiseman is like 50 years old already and Victor Glover seems like he's still stuck in his pilot days... where's the youth and innovation in this crew?! Christina Koch is cool I guess, but she was already on some long-term spaceflight thingy before this... it's not like we're getting any fresh faces up here.

And what's with the whole "diversity" thing? Just because they've got a few people from different backgrounds doesn't mean this mission is going to solve anything. We'll just be perpetuating the same old NASA formula: rich, white dudes flying around and saving the world one moon trip at a time .