Astronauts from NASAArtemis’ first manned flight left much to the question about the diversity of future astronauts assigned to future lunar missions.
Speaking at a press conference a few days ago their return to Earthi Artemis II astronauts – Commander Reid Wisemanpilot Victor Glover, mechanical engineer Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen – are asked whether the US space agency should fulfill its promise to land the first woman and the first person of color montha goal that NASA recently emphasized.
The moment highlights an issue that NASA has avoided making public. The first shipment of the Artemis system is expected from 2028.
“That’s a good question,” Koch told Mashable. “Our understanding of that statement was that the Artemis mission as a whole will usher in an era where that is true, and that it will happen naturally because of our astronauts.”
Although Mashable sought the opinion of each astronaut, only Koch responded before the president moved on to another reporter’s question.
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Before 2025, NASA always described Artemis’s first moon landing as putting the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. But in the past year, that language has largely disappeared from the agency’s materials, following a White House rule which has undermined diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in all government agencies. The directive labeled such programs as “illegal and immoral.”
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Artemis II’s crew itself marked a milestone. This mission was the first flight into deep space not manned by white men. Koch became the first woman and Glover the first black person to travel beyond low-Earth orbit. Theirs lunar flyby crew assignment takes place in 2023, during the administration of President Joe Biden.
Artemis II crew, clockwise: Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Reid Wiseman.
Credit: Josh Valcarcel
Both have downplayed the historical significance of their differences in past discussions, focusing on the technical goals of the machines. Before the launch, they were often confused about what those “firsts” meant, especially to women and people of color.
On Thursday, however, Koch seemed confident that the milestone would happen, whatever his intentions.
“The truth is that we shouldn’t try too hard to make that come true, to make that a reality for this mission. In fact, we should try harder to not make that a reality for the team of astronauts we have.”
“The truth is that we don’t have to try hard to make that come true, to make that the reality of this project,” he said. “We really have to try very hard not to do that with the team of astronauts we have.”
Floating in Orion’s orbit, the four Artemis II astronauts embrace weightlessness.
Credit: NASA
Artemis II, approx 10 day equipment to the moon and back, it was the first trip by a NASA crew beyond low-Earth orbit in more than half a century. A $4.1 billion test flight The Orion spacecraftLife support, power, navigation, and guidance systems. The mission took the capsule past Apollo-era distance, to reach the farthest point approximately 252,756 miles.
NASA has not yet announced a crew for Artemis II. The next mission, Artemis III, will serve as a 2027 demonstration flight to land Orion with commercial lunar habitats built while in low-Earth orbit. Artemis IV is expected to attempt the first lunar landing of the program next year.
Agency officials said the allocations would depend on mission needs but did not address whether previous commitments regarding representation still exist.
