NASA's Artemis II Commander and Pilot Move to Emeritus Status

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, commander and pilot of the Artemis II mission, moved into emeritus status at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston this September. NASA said the role lets people with deep technical and professional knowledge keep supporting the agency as specialized consultants. They train and mentor the current workforce while gaining the flexibility to pursue other opportunities.

Wiseman commanded Artemis II after previously spending 165 days aboard the International Space Station, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. Glover served as pilot after experience as a naval aviator, test pilot and Crew-1 astronaut. "I'm grateful they will continue sharing what they learned with our astronauts, flight controllers and engineers as we prepare for Artemis III in 2027 and the missions that follow," Isaacman said.

Glover, who also recently retired from the U.S. Navy, has taken a full-time role at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He advises senior leadership on education, research and workforce strategy, effective Sept. 1. Wiseman is set to share his spaceflight experience with colleagues ahead of the Artemis III Moon mission, which will test rendezvous and docking between the Orion spacecraft and commercial human landing systems in low Earth orbit.

Wiseman, Glover, NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen flew around the moon together in April. They became the first crew to travel beyond low Earth orbit since 1972, before splashing down on April 10. Hansen has separately moved from active astronaut duty to reserve status with the Royal Canadian Air Force's 3rd Canadian Space Division. Koch remains on active NASA astronaut duty.