NASA will retain direct access to two Artemis II crewmembers' technical and operational knowledge when Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman move to emeritus status at Johnson Space Center in September, the agency says. The change ends their full-time flight duties but keeps both available to train, mentor and advise on upcoming lunar missions.
Emeritus status allows experienced personnel to contribute on a voluntary, consultant basis, combining advisory work with the freedom to pursue opportunities outside the agency. NASA framed the move as a way to preserve specialised talent and long experience for mission planning and operations. “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Reid and Victor for years, and both exemplify the leadership, character, and commitment that define NASA at its best,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
Isaacman highlighted Wiseman’s prior 165 days aboard the International Space Station and Glover’s service as a naval aviator, test pilot, and Crew-1 astronaut, noting both played central roles on Artemis II and will support Artemis III in 2027 and later missions. NASA describes Artemis III as a low Earth orbit flight to exercise Orion’s rendezvous and docking with commercial human landing systems.
Glover said he will concentrate on aerospace, leadership and public service initiatives while transferring knowledge of Orion and spacecraft systems to future Artemis teams. “As I grow into this new role, NASA and spaceflight remain a meaningful part of my journey of service,” he said. Wiseman said he will focus on readying colleagues for mission work, including Artemis III. “There is no better place to work, and there are no better people to work with, than those in this agency,” he added.
Both astronauts flew as members of the four-person Artemis II crew, launching on the Space Launch System and Orion for a 10-day flight around the Moon and splashing down on April 10. That mission placed humans in lunar orbit for the first time in more than 50 years and set new distance records for human spaceflight.
NASA says the pair’s continuing mentorship and technical guidance will be important as teams finalise plans for Artemis III and as the agency advances toward returning American astronauts to the lunar surface on Artemis IV in 2028. The emeritus roles let NASA keep institutional memory close while Glover and Wiseman begin a new chapter of public engagement and advisory work.
