4 individual records that Artemis II astronauts will break if they reach the Moon

In addition to the Artemis II astronauts traveling further and faster on this mission than any human in history, each one has a personal record to break.

A, this Wednesday, headed for the Moon, taking human beings towards the satellite for the first time in more than 50 years.

Four astronauts began a ten-day mission during which they will circumnavigate the Moon — and, as detailed by , each will claim a different individual record.

The Artemis II crew includes the commander Reid Wisemanthe pilot Victor Glover and the mission specialist Christina Koch of NASA, and the mission specialist Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency.

1. First black astronaut to go to the Moon

Glover will make history as the first black astronaut visiting the lunar environment and the first black astronaut to venture beyond low Earth orbit (LEO).

The 49-year-old former fighter pilot previously spent 168 days on the International Space Station (ISS) between November 2020 and May 2021, becoming the first black astronaut to visit the station. On that trip, he also made history as the first person to pilot SpaceX’s manned Dragon capsule, which was being used to transport astronauts to the ISS for the first time.

During Artemis II, Glover will also become the first person to pilot NASA’s Orion spacecraft when he takes control of the otherwise autonomous module during a roughly two-hour window called “prox ops” shortly after launch while the crew is still in Earth orbit.

2. First woman to go to the Moon

The mission specialist Koch will be the first woman to go beyond orbit low Earth and visiting the lunar environment.

Koch, 47, also holds the record for the most consecutive days in space by a woman, having spent 328 days on the ISS between March 2019 and February 2020. During this trip, Koch also participated in the first all-female spacewalk, along with fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir.

Live Science reminds us that the record for the most non-consecutive days in space by a woman is held by the now retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitsonwho spent 665 days in space over the course of three space flights.

3. First non-American to go to the Moon

Hansen is the third crew member who will personally open new paths (or space) during the next mission. THE Canadian 50-year-old will become the first non-American to visit the lunar environment and only the 10th Canadian to be launched into space.

Hansen is the only crew member who has not yet been to space. As a result, you may experience “space adaptation syndrome,” which is essentially an extreme version of motion sickness that affects about half of first-time astronauts.

4. Oldest astronaut to go to the Moon

So as not to lag behind the rest of the crew, Wiseman will also set an individual record, becoming the oldest person to visit the lunar environment.

Wiseman turned 50 in November (77 days before Hansen) and will take over the record held by the legendary NASA astronaut Alan Shepardwho was 47 years old when he set foot on the Moon during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.

Other milestones

In addition to the records listed above, the Artemis II mission, as a collective, will mark several other unprecedented feats, such as the longest and fastest flight ever.

The mission will also mark the first manned launch of NASA’s SLS mega rocket and the first time humans have traveled aboard — and piloted — the Orion spacecraft.

Similarly, much of the technology tested aboard Orion is being used in space for the first time. One of the most important examples is the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System, which uses lasers to send and receive messages from Earth and will serve as the basis for future communications systems at NASA’s planned lunar base.

Last but not least, Artemis II will feature the first fully functional toilet to travel to the Moon, as the modules used by Apollo astronauts were only equipped with “relief tubes” and disposable bags.