Artemis II Commander and Pilot Step Down From NASA
NASA announced Wednesday that Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover will leave active astronaut status. Both will shift to emeritus roles, donating time to train NASA workers and advise future lunar missions.
- April's Artemis II mission flew around the moon, setting a new distance record for humanity.
- 3 of Glover's 4 daughters currently attend Cal Poly; a fourth already graduated.
- Glover's Cal Poly leadership role took effect Sept. 1, the same day he retired from the Navy.
- Artemis II crew member Jeremy Hansen left the Canadian Space Agency in July.
Why it matters: The emeritus program is NASA's stated attempt to retain expertise from experienced astronauts. Only Koch remains on the active astronaut roster from the four-person Artemis II crew.
- Glover is the only pilot to have flown NASA's moon-faring Orion capsule.
How 7 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 4 sources: The center treats this as a straightforward personnel and program story, emphasizing NASA's institutional framing of the emeritus role and the crew's collective record.
USA Today7hVictor Glover, Artemis II astronaut, joins Cal Poly in leadership roleWNCWFLA News Channel 89hArtemis II moonshot commander and pilot are hanging up their astronaut suits at NASALeft coverage, 3 sources: The left focuses on Glover's personal story — his Southern California roots, family ties to Cal Poly, and the emotional resonance of his public statements from space.
What’s next: Glover will work with Cal Poly's president on research, innovation, and STEM outreach initiatives.
- Wiseman's emeritus status takes effect this month; his future plans were not disclosed.
- What role, if any, will Wiseman take outside NASA once his emeritus transition is complete?
- How NASA's emeritus program will function in practice — and whether it sets a template for future departures — remains undefined.