PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The countdown has begun for humanity’s return to deep space, and a former Naval Air Station Patuxent River test pilot will be leading the mission. NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, a Baltimore native whose aviation career included testing advanced Navy aircraft in Southern Maryland, is preparing to command Artemis II as humans prepare to travel beyond Earth’s orbit for the first time in more than 50 years.
The excitement is building as launch day approaches, marking a milestone moment not just for NASA, but for the Southern Maryland military and aviation community where Wiseman helped build his career.
The mission is scheduled to launch Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 6:24 p.m. Eastern from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard NASA’s powerful Space Launch System rocket.
From Pax River To Deep Space
Before becoming an astronaut, Wiseman helped shape the future of aviation right here in Southern Maryland.
After being commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer in 1997 and becoming a Naval Aviator in 1999, Wiseman flew combat aircraft including the F-14 Tomcat before being selected in 2003 for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
After graduating in 2004, Wiseman remained at Pax River as a test pilot and test project officer with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23), evaluating some of the Navy’s most advanced aircraft systems, including programs connected to the F-35 Lightning II.
Wiseman was selected by NASA in 2009 from thousands of applicants and later spent 165 days aboard the International Space Station, conducting research, performing spacewalks and supporting station operations.
He also served as NASA’s chief astronaut, helping oversee astronaut training and mission readiness before returning to flight status and being selected to lead Artemis II.
Wiseman will lead a four-person international crew that includes:
- Victor Glover, pilot — A U.S. Navy test pilot and NASA astronaut who previously flew aboard SpaceX Crew-1 to the International Space Station and will become the first Black astronaut assigned to a lunar mission.
- Christina Koch, mission specialist — A NASA astronaut and engineer who holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman and will become the first woman assigned to a lunar mission.
- Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist — Canadian Space Agency astronaut and Royal Canadian Air Force colonel who will become the first Canadian to travel into deep space.
A Mission Of Firsts
Artemis II will mark several historic milestones for NASA and human spaceflight, including:
- The first crewed flight of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket
- The first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft
- The first human mission beyond low-Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972
- The first time a woman, a Black astronaut and a Canadian astronaut are assigned to a lunar mission
NASA officials describe the mission as a critical test flight designed to verify spacecraft systems and crew operations before astronauts attempt future lunar landing missions later in the decade.
Final Countdown Underway
NASA began its formal launch countdown Monday, March 30, following weeks of delays caused by technical reviews involving hydrogen systems and upper stage pressurization checks.
NASA officials say those issues have been resolved, and forecasts show about an 80% chance of favorable launch weather.
Since being named to the mission in 2023, Wiseman and his crewmates have spent years training together in simulators and mission rehearsals, preparing for deep space travel.
During the mission, the astronauts will live inside the Orion spacecraft — about the size of a large van — as they travel roughly 240,000 miles from Earth and back while testing systems needed for future missions.
NASA/Kim Shiflett
Carrying Millions Of Names To The Moon
Artemis II isn’t just carrying four astronauts — it’s also carrying millions of people along for the ride.
Through NASA’s “Send Your Name With Artemis” campaign, more than 5.6 million names from around the world have been added to a digital storage card placed aboard the Orion spacecraft.
That means while only four astronauts will physically make the journey, millions of people will symbolically travel around the Moon with them.
Participants were even able to download a personalized boarding pass as a keepsake, turning the historic mission into a shared global experience.
NASA officials say the effort is meant to inspire the next generation of explorers and remind people everywhere that Artemis represents humanity’s next giant leap into deep space.
Even as he prepares to command Artemis II, Wiseman remains focused on family. The father of two recently shared a photo with his daughters before departing for launch, describing himself as boarding the rocket “a very proud father.”
Read Wiseman’s full astronaut biography on NASA’s website here.
How To Watch The Launch Live
NASA will provide live coverage of the Artemis II launch through its NASA+ streaming service, YouTube channel and official website.
Coverage is expected to begin several hours before launch, with the launch scheduled for 6:24 p.m. Eastern on April 1, weather permitting.
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There is nothing historic about traversing to the moon and back with today’s technology, especially when it was done multiple times in the 60s when technology was extremely limited. Waste of tax payers money is all it is.
A USB stick with millions of names on it? Really?