Where Did NASA’s Artemis II Moon Astronauts Go to College?

NASA announced the latest astronauts who will embark on the next moon mission, including the first person of color, the first woman, and the first Canadian to circle the moon.

The Artemis II crew will include NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The Artemis mission’s aim is to explore more of the lunar surface, according to NASA, in hopes to establish the first long-term presence on the moon and eventually pave the way for the first astronauts to go to Mars. The mission is expected to take 10 days and launch sometime next fall.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals — the Artemis II crew — will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all,” Director of the NASA Johnson Space Center Vanessa Wyche said in a statement.

Studying to become an astronaut takes many years and can happen through multiple avenues of study. Here is what the latest crew studied to be able to call themselves astronauts.

Wiseman graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, with a bachelor of science degree in computer and systems engineering. He holds a master of science degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a certificate of space systems from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

Glover holds a bachelor of science degree in general engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He also has several advanced flight-training degrees, including a master of science in flight-test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, a master of science in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, and a master of military operational art and science from Air University, a professional military university.

Koch is an alum of North Carolina State University (NC State) where she obtained bachelor of science degrees in electrical engineering and physics, as well as a master of science degree in electrical engineering. She also holds an honorary Ph.D. from NC State, awarded to her after she spoke at the university’s virtual commencement ceremony in 2020. Koch will be the only professional engineer aboard the Artemis II mission.

Hansen earned a bachelor’s degree in honors space science and a master of science in physics with a focus on the wide field of view satellite tracking from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.