Traveling 252,756 miles from Earth and breaking Apollo 13’s record — dating back to 1970 — for the greatest distance humans have traveled in space, Artemis II launched its 10-day voyage around the Moon on April 1, 2026. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen served as both scientists and research subjects on the first crewed flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Integrity.
On this venture, NASA conducted five studies exploring how deep-space travel affects the human body and mind. Particularly, NASA collected physiological and behavioral data helping researchers understand the impacts of isolation, confinement, and the environment in general. Space radiation remains one of the greatest risks to astronaut health, and radiation monitoring was prioritized with sensors maximizing the astronauts’ safety.
Integrity reached the Moon on “Day 6,” and the crew executed a seven hour flyby capturing images of the Moon’s surface. The crew observed several different geological features such as impact craters and ancient lava flows that will help scientists understand the processes that shaped the Moon. Ultimately, scientists seek support for future surface missions like Artemis III, which is expected to land near the Moon’s South Pole. During their flyby, the astronauts observed a solar eclipse from a vantage point that was only accessible to them. Commander Reid Wiseman expressed awe through his live reaction: “No matter how long we look at this, our brains are not processing this image in front of us. There’s no adjectives: I’m going to need some new ones to describe what we are looking at out this window.”
While sharing an emotional moment together, the crew requested to name a lunar crater on the Moon after Reid Wiseman’s wife, Carroll, who passed away in 2020. As a registered nurse in the newborn intensive care unit, Carroll dedicated her life to others. Many NICU parents felt emotionally impacted by the crater’s naming; they expressed their gratitude for their nurses and found comfort in knowing that Carroll would be watching over their children.
The work of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen paves the way for future research and human development. They have greatly contributed to scientific advancement and have undeniably secured the pioneering title.
