These Are the 4 Artemis II Astronauts Leading the Historic Return to the Moon

The Artemis II crew poses for a group photograph during their visit to the SLS Artemis II rocket on March 30, 2026.Photograph: Bill Ingalls/Getty Images

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration is about to write a new chapter in the history of space exploration. The agency is preparing for the launch of Artemis II, a mission that will mark the return of crewed flights around the moon after more than half a century.

In addition to its technical relevance, the project stands out for integrating a crew that symbolizes a new stage in terms of representation: It will include the first woman, the first Black person, and the first non-US astronaut to travel to the lunar environment.

The names of the members were announced a little more than three years ago. At that time, then-NASA administrator Bill Nelson said, “The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people ...