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, US
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| Awards | Air Medal |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Captain, United States Navy |
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Time in space
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174 days, 9 hours, 33 minutes |
| 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 |
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Mission insignia
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Gregory Reid Wiseman, born on November 11, 1975, is an American naval aviator and NASA astronaut. He is famous for commanding the Artemis II mission in April 2026. This mission was a historic flight around the Moon, the first time humans traveled so far since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Wiseman was chosen as a NASA astronaut in 2009. Before becoming an astronaut, he was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and test pilot. In 2014, he flew to the International Space Station as part of Expedition 40 and Expedition 41. From 2020 to 2022, he also served as the 17th chief of the Astronaut Office, leading all NASA astronauts.
On April 1, 2026, Wiseman launched on Artemis II. At 50 years old, he became the oldest person to travel beyond low Earth orbit. He was the first person to command a lunar mission since Gene Cernan on Apollo 17. Along with his crew, he traveled farther from Earth than any human before.
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Early Life and Education Journey
Gregory Reid Wiseman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 11, 1975. His parents were Judith Eileen Wiseman and William Joseph Wiseman III. His father worked for the Baltimore County government. His mother was an administrative assistant.
Reid grew up in Cockeysville, Maryland. He went to Dulaney High School. There, he enjoyed playing golf and was part of the drumline. He also joined the Russian club. After graduating in 1993, he studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1997, he earned a degree in computer and systems engineering. Later, in 2006, he received a master's degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
After college, Wiseman joined the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program. He began flight training in Florida in 1997. By 1999, he became a Naval Aviator, meaning he was a qualified pilot. He then trained to fly the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet.
Wiseman flew the F-14 with Fighter Squadron 31. He completed two deployments to the Middle East. During these missions, he supported important operations. In 2003, he was chosen to attend the United States Naval Test Pilot School. This school trains pilots to test new aircraft and systems.
After graduating in 2004, he became a Test Pilot. He worked on testing various aircraft. These included the F-35C Lightning II and the F/A-18 Hornet. He also tested the T-45 Goshawk. He helped make sure these planes were safe and worked correctly.
Later, Wiseman served as a strike operations officer. He completed another deployment around South America. He then flew the F/A-18F Super Hornet with Strike Fighter Squadron 103. He was on deployment in the Middle East when NASA selected him for astronaut training. For his service, Wiseman received several awards. These included the Air Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Becoming a NASA Astronaut
On June 29, 2009, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced a big step for Wiseman. He was one of nine people chosen from 3,500 applicants to become an astronaut. At that time, he was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. He was flying with Strike Fighter Squadron 103.
Wiseman shared that he loved watching the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air shows when he was young. He also saw a Space Shuttle launch in 2001. These experiences made him dream of becoming an astronaut.
Living and Working on the Space Station
Wiseman served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station (ISS). This mission was called Expedition 40/Expedition 41. It was a six-month journey from May to November 2014. He launched into space on May 28, 2014. He returned to Earth on November 10, 2014.
Training as an Aquanaut
In 2016, Wiseman took part in NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) program. During this program, astronauts train underwater. They live in an underwater laboratory, like aquanauts. This helps them prepare for missions in space.
Leading the Astronaut Office
On December 18, 2020, Wiseman became the chief of the Astronaut Office. This meant he was in charge of all NASA astronauts. He helped guide their training and missions. He had previously been the deputy chief. He stepped down from this important role on November 14, 2022. He wanted to return to active flight missions.
Commanding the Artemis II Mission
On April 3, 2023, Wiseman was chosen as the commander for the historic Artemis II mission. This mission aimed to fly around the Moon. His crew included NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen also joined them.
The Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026. As commander, Wiseman was responsible for the crew's safety. He also oversaw the mission's success and solved any problems during the flight. On April 6, 2026, Artemis II and its crew achieved a new record. They reached the farthest distance from Earth that humans have ever traveled. This distance was 248,655 miles, surpassing the record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. During the mission, Wiseman captured amazing images, including Hello, World and Earthset. The crew safely splashed down on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Personal Life and Family
Wiseman was married to Carroll Taylor Wiseman, a nurse. She passed away in 2020. They had two daughters. During the Artemis II mission on April 6, 2026, his fellow astronaut Jeremy Hansen made a special request. He asked for a newly discovered crater on the Moon to be named "Carroll." This was a beautiful way to honor Wiseman's late wife.
See also
In Spanish: Gregory R. Wiseman para niños
