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Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) honoree Victor Glover is one of four astronauts named by NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The agencies revealed the crew members Monday during an event at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity's crew," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen each has their own story. Together, they represent our creed: E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation."
According to the statement, the crew assignments are as follows: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen. They will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations during the flight test.
The 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency's powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft's life-support systems, and validate humans' capabilities and techniques to live and work in deep space.
The flight, set to build upon the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission completed in December, will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program, paving the way for future long-term human exploration missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars. This is the agency's Moon to Mars exploration approach.
"For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, the first person of color, and the first Canadian on a lunar mission. All four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all," said Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson. "This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industrial, and academic partnerships, and the Artemis Generation."
The mission will be Glover's second spaceflight, serving previously as a pilot on NASA's SpaceX Crew-1, which landed on May 2, 2021, after 168 days in space. As a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 64, he contributed to scientific investigations and technology demonstrations and participated in four spacewalks.
Through Artemis missions, NASA will use innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. First, we will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.
Glover served as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon, named Resilience, launched on November 15, 2020. He also served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 64. Resilience is the first post-certification mission of SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft and a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Glover is the first African American expedition crew member to live on the ISS as an assembly astronaut. In addition, glover celebrated his birthday in space on April 30.
Following commissioning, the California native earned his wings of gold on December 14, 2001. After completing the F/A‐18C syllabus, he was assigned to the Blue Blasters of the Strike Fighter Squadron. With the Blue Blasters, he completed the final deployment of the USS John F. Kennedy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Glover was selected as the United States Navy's exchange pilot to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School. During the one‐year experimental test piloting course, he flew over 30 aircraft in the U.S. and Italy. In 2007, he was designated a test pilot. Glover then served as a pilot with the Dust Devils of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX‐31, testing various weapons systems. He accumulated 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft, over 400 carrier landings, and 24 combat missions.
In his off‐duty hours, he earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering. Following graduation, he reported to the Dambusters of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA‐195 in Atsugi, Japan, where he served as a department head.
With the Dambusters, he deployed three times to various locations in the Pacific. In 2012, Glover was selected for the Legislative Fellowship. in Washington, D.C., and was assigned to the office of a U.S. Senator. Glover was a Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Senate when selected as an astronaut candidate in 2013. In 2015, he completed Astronaut Candidate Training.