NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman are transitioning to emeritus status at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston, following their landmark Artemis II mission that returned astronauts to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. The move, effective in September, allows the two veteran spaceflyers to remain connected to NASA while sharing their operational knowledge with the teams preparing the next phase of crewed lunar exploration.
Wiseman commanded Artemis II, while Glover served as pilot during the flight around the Moon earlier this year. They launched aboard NASA's Space Launch System, becoming the first crew to lift off on the heavy-lift rocket. Alongside NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, the four-person crew orbited the Moon and tested the Orion spacecraft and the SLS with astronauts aboard. The mission lasted 10 days and ended with a safe return, carrying lessons that NASA says will shape future flights.
In their new emeritus roles, Glover and Wiseman will mentor astronauts and advise NASA teams working on upcoming Artemis missions. Their experience with Orion and its systems is expected to be particularly valuable as engineers, flight controllers and mission teams continue preparations for Artemis III and subsequent deep-space journeys. NASA managers described the pair as leaving a strong legacy defined by calm decision-making, a spirit of service and operational skill.
Glover said that as he takes on this new role, NASA and spaceflight remain a significant part of his path of service. Wiseman brings years of leadership experience, including work aboard the International Space Station and a tenure as chief of the astronaut office. The timing of the transition comes as NASA advances the Artemis campaign, which aims to send astronauts back to the lunar surface.
Artemis II marked the first crewed flight around the Moon in over five decades and served as a critical test of the Orion capsule and the Space Launch System rocket with people on board. The data and operational insights gathered during the mission are expected to support the broader Artemis program as NASA works toward renewed human exploration of the Moon and, eventually, deeper destinations in the cosmos.