Artemis II Astronauts Reveal Treasured Keepsakes for Historic Moon Journey
A quartet of astronauts is preparing to make history as the first crew to journey around the Moon in over five decades, carrying with them deeply personal mementos that connect them to Earth and their loved ones.
The Artemis II mission will feature NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman as commander, alongside Victor Glover and Christina Koch, plus Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen. These accomplished professionals must balance their groundbreaking adventure with the inherent risks and family responsibilities that come with such an extraordinary undertaking.
Commander Reid Wiseman’s Leadership Journey
A former Navy test pilot with International Space Station experience from 2014, Wiseman brings unique perspective to his command role. The Baltimore native has navigated profound personal challenges, raising two teenage daughters as a single father following his wife’s passing from cancer in 2020.
Wiseman has approached the mission’s risks with characteristic honesty, even discussing emergency preparations with his children during family walks. He believes such conversations are essential for all families, emphasizing life’s unpredictability.
For his personal allowance, the commander plans to bring a small notebook to document his thoughts throughout the historic voyage. He views the mission as a collaborative effort, praising his crewmates’ dedication and humility while hoping their flight becomes a stepping stone toward permanent lunar habitation and eventual Mars exploration.
Christina Koch Breaks Barriers
An accomplished engineer and physicist, Koch previously established the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, spending 328 days aboard the International Space Station in 2019. She also participated in the first all-female spacewalk during that mission.
The Michigan-born astronaut will make history as the first woman to travel to lunar vicinity. Her space aspirations began in childhood when she discovered that the famous Earthrise photograph from Apollo 8 was captured by a human astronaut rather than an automated camera.
Koch credits her extensive interactions with Apollo veterans through scholarship programs and NASA events with teaching her valuable lessons about teamwork and camaraderie. She plans to carry handwritten messages from close friends and family as her personal item, creating what she describes as a tangible link to Earth.
Her husband has been thoroughly briefed on mission milestones and risks, though Koch has had to explain that unlike her previous ISS assignment, there will be no casual communication opportunities during the lunar journey.
Jeremy Hansen Represents International Partnership
The former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot and physicist joined Canada’s space program in 2009. Despite lacking spaceflight experience, Hansen has been instrumental in astronaut training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, becoming the first Canadian to lead such efforts.
Like Koch, Hansen’s space fascination traces back to Apollo 8, when he transformed his childhood treehouse into an imaginary spacecraft after seeing images of lunar exploration. He has carefully prepared his wife and three children for the mission by showing them Artemis I launch footage and explaining the normal sounds and sights that might appear alarming.
Hansen will become the first non-American to journey to the Moon, viewing this milestone as evidence of enhanced international space cooperation since the Apollo era. His personal items include four moon-shaped pendants for his family members, engraved with “Moon and back” and featuring their birthstones, plus maple syrup and cookies representing his Canadian heritage.
Victor Glover’s Historic Flight
A former Navy fighter and test pilot selected by NASA in 2013, Glover previously served as pilot for the SpaceX Crew 1 mission and spent nearly six months on the International Space Station. The California native, married with four children, will become the first Black person to travel to the Moon.
Colleagues describe Glover as the most charismatic crew member, known for his impeccable style and impressive educational background including three master’s degrees. His call sign “IKE” reportedly stands for “I Know Everything,” reflecting his extensive expertise.
In preparation for Artemis II, Glover has been studying original 1960s Gemini and Apollo documentation, seeking engineering and piloting insights that remain relevant. He believes exploration represents a fundamental human drive to understand our place in the universe.
Glover’s personal items include a Bible, wedding rings, family heirlooms, and inspirational quotations compiled by Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart.
The crew collectively embodies their mission’s purpose in a shared phrase: “We are ready… We are going… To the Moon… For all humanity!”