Artemis II Leaders Wiseman, Glover Retire from NASA Astronaut Corps

Two key figures from NASA's Artemis II mission, commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover, are retiring from their roles as active astronauts. NASA announced Wednesday that both astronauts will transition to emeritus status, allowing them to continue contributing to the agency's lunar exploration goals. The move comes after their historic April 2026 flight, which saw the crew orbit the moon and set a new distance record for human spaceflight.

Victor Glover will be taking on a leadership position at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo. His new role began September 1, focusing on shaping long-term strategies and inspiring future scientists and engineers. Reid Wiseman's transition to emeritus status will be effective this month. While his specific future plans were not disclosed, he will continue to support the Artemis program.

The Artemis II mission, which also included astronauts Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency and Christina Koch, aimed to return humans to the vicinity of the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. Hansen retired from the CSA in July 2026, and Koch remains an active astronaut. With Wiseman and Glover moving to emeritus roles, Christina Koch is now the sole active astronaut from the Artemis II crew.

A New Approach to Astronaut Expertise

NASA is implementing a new strategy to leverage the extensive experience of its seasoned astronauts. As emeritus astronauts, Wiseman and Glover will dedicate their time to training and mentoring NASA personnel, sharing invaluable insights gleaned from their lunar mission. This approach aims to maximize the impact of their expertise for future endeavors in deep space exploration.

"Together, they took on one of the most challenging missions in human spaceflight and helped return America to the lunar environment," said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman in a statement. "I'm grateful they will continue sharing what they learned."

Glover, a retired Navy test pilot, was selected as an astronaut in 2013. Prior to Artemis II, he served as pilot on SpaceX's Crew-4 mission, a nearly six-month assignment to the International Space Station in 2020-2021. His reflections from orbit, describing Earth as a solitary oasis within the vast universe, resonated widely. "This is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing and that we've got to get through this together," Glover remarked during the mission.

Wiseman, a former Navy captain, was chosen as an astronaut in 2009. He previously spent over five months aboard the International Space Station in 2014 and later served as NASA's chief astronaut. During the Artemis II mission, Wiseman shared a poignant moment when he and his crewmates requested permission to name a lunar crater in honor of his late wife, Carroll, who passed away from cancer in 2020.

The transition of Wiseman and Glover highlights the evolving nature of astronaut careers and NASA's commitment to continuing human presence and activity beyond Earth orbit. Their contributions as active astronauts were significant, and their continued involvement as emeritus astronauts promises to benefit future Artemis missions.