Nationwide — Victor Glover is set to make history as the first Black astronaut to travel to the moon. He will pilot NASA’s Artemis II mission, joining a crew of three, in a flight that marks the U.S.’s return to human lunar exploration after more than 50 years and sets the stage for future moon landings.
According to Essence, Glover, 49, will fly alongside Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA mission specialist Christina Koch, the first woman star sailor going to the moon, and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen. During the mission, the crew will orbit the moon and face about 45 minutes of total communication blackout while passing over its far side.
Glover called the mission a “moonshot” for his generation. “I love that we call great things that humans do, ‘moonshots.’ Our generation gets to have our own moonshots, not just referencing what we did in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Glover said, noting the historic significance of the flight.
Glover never originally planned to become a pilot. Growing up in California, he dreamed of joining the Navy SEALs. His father was the one who encouraged him to combine an engineering degree with flight training, a path that eventually led him to become an astronaut and now to a historic moon mission.
Artemis II was originally set for March but now targets an April 1 launch. The flyby will collect vital data to support NASA’s goal of a crewed moon landing around 2028. The mission aims to guide future exploration while inspiring a new generation of astronauts.
Beyond the technical goals, Glover emphasizes the mission’s symbolic impact. “People need to be able to see themselves in the things that they dream about and not just have to color it in their mind’s eye,” he said, highlighting the significance of representation in space exploration.