Reid Wiseman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Reid Wiseman
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Wiseman in 2023
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Gregory Reid Wiseman
November 11, 1975 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
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| Awards | Air Medal |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Captain, US Navy |
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Time in space
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170 days, 22 hours, 39 minutes (currently in space) |
| Selection | NASA Group 20 (2009) |
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Total EVAs
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2 |
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Total EVA time
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12 hours, 47 minutes |
| Missions |
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Mission insignia
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Gregory Reid Wiseman, born on November 11, 1975, is an American astronaut and a skilled pilot. He is currently the commander of the Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, 2026. This mission is making history as the first crewed flight around the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Before leading the Artemis II mission, Wiseman was the 17th Chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA until November 2022. He joined NASA in 2009 as part of the NASA Astronaut Group 20 and became a qualified astronaut in 2011.
His first journey to space was with Expedition 40/41. He launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on May 28, 2014, and returned to Earth on November 10, 2014. Before becoming an astronaut, Wiseman was a naval aviator and a test pilot, flying many different aircraft. He also served as the Deputy Chief and then Chief of the Astronaut Office before returning to active flight duty. As commander of Artemis II, he is the first person to lead a lunar mission since Gene Cernan in 1972. At 50 years old, he also became the oldest person to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
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About Reid Wiseman
Reid Wiseman grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He went to Dulaney High School in Timonium. He studied computer and systems engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Later, he earned a master's degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 2006. Wiseman has two daughters. He also enjoys go-kart racing in his free time.
After college in 1997, Reid Wiseman joined the United States Navy. He went to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, to learn how to fly. In 1999, he became a Naval Aviator, which means he was a trained pilot for the Navy.
He flew the F-14 Tomcat and later the F/A-18 Hornet. He went on two missions to the Middle East, helping with important operations. In 2003, he was chosen to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Maryland. This school trains pilots to test new aircraft and systems.
As a test pilot, Wiseman worked on exciting projects. He tested planes like the F-35C Lightning II and the F/A-18 Super Hornet. He made sure these advanced aircraft worked safely and effectively. He was flying in the Middle East when NASA selected him to become an astronaut. For his service, he received several awards, including the Air Medal.
Reid Wiseman's NASA Journey
In June 2009, NASA chose Reid Wiseman as one of only nine new astronaut candidates. He was selected from 3,500 people who applied! At that time, he was a pilot in the U.S. Navy, flying from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Wiseman shared that watching the Navy's "Blue Angels" air shows as a kid and seeing a Space Shuttle launch in 2001 inspired him to become an astronaut.
Living Aboard the Space Station: Expedition 40/41
Reid Wiseman was a crew member for Expedition 40/41 on the International Space Station (ISS). This was his first trip to space. He launched on May 28, 2014, and spent six months living and working in orbit. The mission returned to Earth on November 10, 2014.
Exploring Under the Sea: Aquanaut Training
In 2016, Wiseman became an aquanaut. This means he lived and worked underwater as part of NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) program. This training helps astronauts prepare for space missions by experiencing extreme conditions on Earth.
Leading the Astronaut Team
On December 18, 2020, Reid Wiseman was chosen to be the chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA. This is a very important leadership role, where he helped guide all the other astronauts. He had previously been the deputy chief. He stepped down from this position on November 14, 2022, so he could prepare for his next space mission.
Commanding the Artemis II Mission to the Moon
On April 3, 2023, Reid Wiseman was named the commander for the historic Artemis II mission. This mission launched on April 1, 2026, and is now flying past the Moon. He is joined by fellow NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. This mission marks a major step in humanity's return to lunar exploration.
See also
In Spanish: Gregory R. Wiseman para niños
