Historic Artemis II Mission Set for 2024

NASA astronaut Victor Glover is set to make history as the first African American to travel to the Moon’s vicinity. Glover will be part of the Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch in November 2024.

A New Era of Lunar Exploration

While the Artemis II crew won’t land on the Moon or orbit it, their journey will take them thousands of miles further into space than the Apollo missions. This will provide unprecedented views of the lunar far side. The original Apollo program, which sent 24 astronauts to the Moon between 1968 and 1972, consisted solely of white male astronauts.

Glover’s Perspective and Preparation

The 49-year-old Navy captain and former combat pilot from Pomona, California, views his participation as “a force for good.” Glover often reflects on songs like Gil Scott-Heron’s “Whitey on the Moon” and Marvin Gaye’s “Make Me Wanna Holler” from the Apollo era, recognizing the historical context of space exploration.

Balancing Mission and Family

Glover emphasizes the importance of preparing his four daughters, who are in their late teens and early 20s, for this milestone. He dedicates as much time and thought to their preparation as NASA does to his own. He describes his role as running “our best race so that we can hand the baton off to the next leg.”

Looking Ahead: Future Lunar Landings

The Artemis II mission is a stepping stone towards future lunar landings. A 2027 practice docking mission in Earth orbit will test the connection between the Orion crew capsule and lunar landers. The eventual moon landing is planned for 2028 with a different crew of astronauts.