Artemis II Crew's Personal Touch for the Moon Mission

Tue Mar 31 2026 06:48:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As the Artemis II mission prepares to send four astronauts around the Moon, each crew member shares the personal items they will take along to maintain a connection with home.

The Artemis II mission marks the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon in over 50 years. The crew, comprising Commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen, will take personal items reflective of their journeys and connections back to Earth. Wiseman brings a notepad for thoughts, Koch has handwritten notes from loved ones, Hansen carries engraved pendants for his family, and Glover takes symbolic family heirlooms. Their mission symbolizes a new era of human space exploration.

Artemis II Crew's Personal Touch for the Moon Mission

The Artemis II mission not only marks a significant step in space exploration but also highlights the human aspect of this journey. As these astronauts gear up for the historic flight around the Moon, they are each taking along personal items that remind them of their families and homes.

Commanded by Reid Wiseman, the crew also includes mission specialists Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen. They each have unique personal items that serve as sources of comfort and connection during their monumental mission.

Personal Items for Connection

Wiseman plans to take a small notepad, seeing it as a means to capture thoughts and reflections during the journey. Christina Koch, who will become the first woman to travel to the Moon, is taking handwritten notes from those she cherishes as a tactile connection to her loved ones.

Hansen, the first non-American to go to the Moon, carries engraved pendants for his wife and children, alongside nostalgic items like maple syrup and cookies to remind him of home. Meanwhile, Glover, who will become the first Black person to make the lunar journey, takes a Bible, family heirlooms, and inspirational quotes from past astronauts.

This mission signifies not just a scientific exploration, but a shared human experience, blending the ambitions of space travel with the warmth of familial bonds. As each astronaut prepares to embark on this unprecedented journey, they also bring a piece of home, embodying the human spirit in exploration.