NASA has announced its Artemis astronaut class, featuring the next man and first woman slated to walk on the Moon. This landmark mission targets a 2024 lunar landing.
Three years ago, the Trump administration tasked NASA with an ambitious goal: return humans to the Moon by 2024. This led to the Artemis program. Recently, NASA finalized its astronaut selections for pioneering lunar missions. Vice President Mike Pence announced the team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on December 9. The class comprises 18 astronauts—nine men and nine women.
Half have prior spaceflight experience, including two currently aboard the International Space Station. "It's truly amazing to think that the next man and first woman to walk on the Moon are among those names," Pence remarked.
Not every Artemis astronaut will journey to the lunar surface. Some will support primary and backup exploration teams, while others will operate from NASA's Gateway in lunar orbit.
NASA plans to expand the team by late 2021 and include international partners for select missions.
NASA's lunar return begins with robotic missions in 2021. Artemis I will send an uncrewed Orion capsule around the Moon. Artemis II follows in 2023 with the first crewed lunar orbit, its four astronauts already among the announced class.
Artemis III, also with four astronauts, aims for a 2024 surface landing—two will explore the Moon while the others remain in orbit.
