The launch on April 1 felt like a huge moment as Artemis II prepared to send humans around the moon for the first time in over 50 years. People gathered again at Kennedy Space Center, and millions watched online, knowing this time there were actual astronauts on board.

When the rocket launched, it lit up the sky just as it had in past missions, but this one felt different. It wasn’t just a test anymore; there were people inside. The crew included Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. They are the first group of astronauts chosen to travel around the moon since the Apollo missions.

Reid Wiseman is one of the four crew members who have embarked on this mission. Wiseman is a 27-year-old Navy veteran, a pilot, a father of his two daughters, an engineer, and a native of Baltimore. He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2009 and served as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station for Expedition 41 from May through November of 2014. Wiseman is married to his wife, Carroll Wiseman. She passed away at age 46 in 2020 due to a five-year battle with cancer. Carroll supported Reid’s astronaut career throughout her illness. 

This mission represents a significant step forward, as it brings humans closer to landing on the moon again, something that hasn’t been accomplished since Apollo 17 in 1972. Artemis II will orbit around the moon and come back to test everything needed before astronauts land in the future, while also honoring Carroll, whose contributions are vital to the mission.

Watching this launch made it feel like space exploration is really happening again. It’s substantial to think that missions like this could lead to people living on the moon or even going to Mars someday. This wasn’t just another launch; it felt like the next chapter of history.