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NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman holds a helmet against a starry background

Reid Wiseman

ROBERT MARKOWITZ NASA-JSC 

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I’m an Astronaut

Reid Wiseman led the historic Artemis II mission around the moon.

August 31, 2026
By Cailin Loesch

Not many people know what it’s like to see Earth from space. But astronaut Reid Wiseman does! He was the commander of the Artemis II mission, which blasted off on April 1. Wiseman and crewmates Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen flew around the far side of the moon. They traveled farther into space than anyone in history. The goal of their mission was to help NASA, the U.S. space agency, prepare for future lunar landings. The crew returned to Earth on April 10.

Wiseman spoke to Scholastic News about leading the Artemis II crew and what it takes to become an astronaut.

Not many people have seen Earth from space. But astronaut Reid Wiseman has! He was the commander of the Artemis II mission. It blasted off on April 1. Wiseman flew around the far side of the moon. He was with crewmates Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. They traveled farther into space than anyone else before. What was the goal of their mission? It was to help NASA, the U.S. space agency, prepare for future lunar landings. The crew came back to Earth on April 10.

Wiseman spoke to Scholastic News about leading the Artemis II crew. He shared what it takes to become an astronaut.

Back to the Moon
Watch a video about the Artemis moon missions.

Scholastic News: What was your job as commander of the mission?

Reid Wiseman: If we needed a decision made quickly, I had to do that. But I really felt like my role was to make sure everyone participated equally. Everyone had a time to highlight their own unique talents. We spent most of our time flying the spacecraft, testing out the systems for future flights. It’s four people in a tiny space. It took a long time to get used to living that way.

Reid Wiseman: If we needed a decision made quickly, I had to do that. But I really felt like my role was to make sure everyone participated equally. Everyone had a time to highlight their own unique talents. We spent most of our time flying the spacecraft, testing out the systems for future flights. It’s four people in a tiny space. It took a long time to get used to living that way.

NASA 

The Artemis II crew (clockwise from left): Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover

SN: What did you see in space?

RW: I was starstruck by how bright our planet is. And then the moon. We were seeing parts of the moon that you cannot see from Earth, that human eyes had never seen. There are no words to describe that beauty.

RW: I was starstruck by how bright our planet is. And then the moon. We were seeing parts of the moon that you cannot see from Earth, that human eyes had never seen. There are no words to describe that beauty.

SN: How did coming back to Earth feel?

RW: It’s unlike anything that you could ever imagine. You cannot believe that you just came back from 250,000 miles away, and everything worked perfectly. 

RW: It’s unlike anything that you could ever imagine. You cannot believe that you just came back from 250,000 miles away, and everything worked perfectly. 

SN: What might surprise people about training to become an astronaut?

RW: We have to do so many things, like fly an airplane, fly a helicopter. We kind of have to know how to camp. We have to know how to scuba dive. It’s about doing as many things as you possibly can. 

RW: We have to do so many things, like fly an airplane, fly a helicopter. We kind of have to know how to camp. We have to know how to scuba dive. It’s about doing as many things as you possibly can. 

SN: Why is space exploration important?

RW: We always want to know what’s around the next corner. You got to go out there. The most important part is you have to come back and talk about what you have seen. Hopefully, soon we are going to find life out there. To me, that is the ultimate goal.

RW: We always want to know what’s around the next corner. You got to go out there. The most important part is you have to come back and talk about what you have seen. Hopefully, soon we are going to find life out there. To me, that is the ultimate goal.

SN: What advice would you and your crew give to kids?

RW: Find the things you love. Try new things. You can fail, and you can change paths. Christina would say, “Do things that scare you.” Jeremy would say, “Talk to your friends about your dreams.” And Victor would say, “Be a good teammate.” Follow your heart!


Note: The interview has been edited and condensed.

RW: Find the things you love. Try new things. You can fail, and you can change paths. Christina would say, “Do things that scare you.” Jeremy would say, “Talk to your friends about your dreams.” And Victor would say, “Be a good teammate.” Follow your heart!


Note: The interview has been edited and condensed.

Reid’s Road to Space

Here’s a look at how Reid Wiseman became an astronaut.

Here’s a look at how Reid Wiseman became an astronaut.

NASA/ESA (Wiseman); Shutterstock.com (icons)

After graduating from college in 1997, Wiseman served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy.

After graduating from college in 1997, Wiseman served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy.

In 2009, NASA selected Wiseman to become an astronaut. That year, more than 3,500 people applied. Only nine were chosen.

In 2009, NASA selected Wiseman to become an astronaut. That year, more than 3,500 people applied. Only nine were chosen.

Wiseman spent about five months in space in 2014. He worked on the International Space Station (above), a laboratory that circles Earth.

Wiseman spent about five months in space in 2014. He worked on the International Space Station (above), a laboratory that circles Earth.

In 2023, Wiseman and his crewmates began nearly three years of training for the Artemis II mission.

In 2023, Wiseman and his crewmates began nearly three years of training for the Artemis II mission.

1. What was the goal of the Artemis II mission?

2. Based on the article, how is the role of a mission commander different from the roles of other crew members on a space mission?

3. According to the article, what amazed Reid Wiseman while he was on the Artemis II mission?

1. What was the goal of the Artemis II mission?

2. Based on the article, how is the role of a mission commander different from the roles of other crew members on a space mission?

3. According to the article, what amazed Reid Wiseman while he was on the Artemis II mission?

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