NASA's Nelson on Artemis II astronauts: 'This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity's crew'

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) introduced the crew of the Artemis II mission on Monday that’ll venture around the moon, according to a press release issued by the government agency. 

NASA said the four astronauts – Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Hammock Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen – comprise the first crewed moon mission in 50 years.

“The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to bring us to the stars,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in the release. “This is their crew, this is our crew, this is humanity's crew.”

Nelson said while each astronaut has their own story, they together embody the U.S.’s motto, “E pluribus unum,” or “out of many, one.”

“Together, we are ushering in a new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers – the Artemis Generation,” he said, according to the release.

ABC News reported that the mission is an undertaking between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), with Glover to serve as the pilot and Wiseman the commander.

The crew was unveiled during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston.

François-Philippe Champagne, whose ministry oversees the CSA, said the mission is an example of the strong relationship Canada has with the U.S.

“Canada’s participation in the Artemis program is not only a defining chapter of our history in space, but also a testament to the friendship and close partnership between our two nations,” Champagne said in the release.

CNBC reported that Artemis II is slated to lift off in late 2024.

The inaugural Artemis mission circled around the moon for about a month late last year. 

A third mission is scheduled for 2025, and is likely to have astronauts set foot on the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo missions, per CNBC.