Artemis II commander and pilot become NASA's first emeritus astronauts
Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, commander and pilot of Artemis II, have entered NASA's new emeritus program, allowing them to advise while pursuing outside work.
NASA has appointed Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover as the agency's first emeritus astronauts, a designation created five months after their mission returned from the Moon. The emeritus program permits them to remain at Johnson Space Center in Houston, providing training and mentorship to current crews without fully retiring. Glover has accepted a full-time administrative leadership position at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, while committing to volunteer his Orion knowledge to NASA.
Wiseman will similarly stay involved in advisory capacities. Both astronauts will receive access badges and plan to attend simulation runs, and Glover aims to help establish a United States Space Academy serving NASA and the U.S. Space Force.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
Why it matters
The move lets veteran astronauts guide future missions while pursuing careers outside NASA, strengthening expertise continuity.
In this story
