Johnson Space Center in Houston is seeing two astronauts step away from active duty service, though neither of them is departing NASA entirely. Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman are both moving into emeritus status, which allows highly experienced NASA personnel to volunteer their expertise while gaining more freedom to pursue opportunities outside their previous full-time positions.
The change follows the pair’s completion of the historic Artemis II mission earlier this year, the first crewed flight on NASA’s SLS rocket carrying astronauts aboard Orion around the Moon. Glover and Wiseman were two of the four astronauts on the 10-day mission, which splashed down on April 10, making them the first humans in more than 50 years to travel to lunar orbit. The crew traveled farther into space than anyone before them during the flight.
The Transition to Emeritus
The emeritus program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center gives both astronauts a way to keep working for the agency while they step away from full-time employment. Once they reach emeritus status in September, they can volunteer their skills, help train and mentor current staff, and gain more freedom to take on opportunities outside their former jobs.
Glover intends to stay engaged in aerospace, leadership, and public service, both inside and outside NASA. He will transfer his deep understanding of Orion and its spacecraft systems to the crews getting ready for upcoming Artemis missions.
“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. “Together, they took on one of the most challenging missions in human spaceflight and helped return America to the lunar environment.”
NASA is getting ready for Artemis III, a mission planned for low Earth orbit that will test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial human landing systems, and Wiseman will keep on sharing lessons from his own spaceflight career while that work moves forward.
Wiseman made the remark about “There is no better place to work, and there are no better people to work with, than those in this agency,” and “NASA gave me tremendous responsibility, supported me through two space missions, and my time as chief astronaut, and was always there for my family when we needed it most.”
What Their Work Will Cover
NASA teams can count on both astronauts for ongoing guidance and support as preparations move forward for Artemis III and beyond. The pair’s work with Orion and deep-space operations makes their counsel particularly useful as NASA pushes toward bringing astronauts back to the Moon.
NASA expects the experience gathered by Glover and Wiseman on Artemis II to prove useful as the agency prepares for Artemis III. That knowledge should also aid the wider Artemis effort as NASA moves forward with plans to return American astronauts to the Moon’s surface through Artemis IV in 2028.
NASA leaders made it clear that the shift away from Glover and Wiseman’s contributions to the agency. Instead, their experience will remain available to astronauts, engineers, flight controllers, and others working on the next stages of NASA’s human spaceflight program is not a final farewell to the work they represent.
“Reid and Victor’s commitment to exploration, steady leadership, and service to our astronaut corps and our nation have made a lasting impact,” said Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Their contributions have helped advance our mission and inspire those around them, leaving a legacy that will continue to shape the future of human spaceflight.”
Key Facts Box
- Mission: Artemis II, first crewed flight on NASA’s SLS rocket
- Date of splashdown: April 10
- Distance record: Farther than anyone before
- Next mission: Artemis III, planned for low Earth orbit
- Artemis IV: Return to the lunar surface, 2028
- Emeritus transition: September
Comparison Table
| Role | Details |
|---|---|
| Active astronaut | Full-time duty at Johnson Space Center |
| Emeritus status | Volunteering expertise, more freedom outside NASA |
| Artemis II | First crewed flight around the Moon |
| Artemis III | Low Earth orbit, Orion docking tests |
| Artemis IV | Return to the lunar surface, 2028 |
NASA has quietly won a victory in its leadership transition. Neither Glover nor Wiseman is retiring. Instead, they are shifting how they contribute to the agency’s work. Their hands-on knowledge of Orion and deep-space operations stays at hand for the teams building the next missions. And because they have committed to staying involved, their legacy endures even as they step away from active service.
Source material: “Two astronauts who flew farther than anyone before are taking new NASA roles,” ScienceDaily.
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