Victor Glover: First Black Person to Moon

Get ready for a monumental moment in space exploration! NASA’s Artemis II mission, launching on April 1, 2026, will carry U.S. Navy Captain Victor Glover, making him the first Black person ever to travel to the Moon. This 10-day mission marks a significant return of humans to deep space for the first time since the Apollo program concluded in 1972.

A Career Defined by Firsts

Glover’s journey to this historic milestone is marked by a career of exceptional achievement. Hailing from Pomona, California, he holds multiple advanced degrees and boasts over 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft, including 24 combat missions as a Navy pilot. His dedication and expertise led him to the astronaut corps in 2013.

This isn’t Glover’s first time making history. In 2020, he piloted SpaceX Crew-1, becoming the first Black astronaut to complete an extended mission aboard the International Space Station. During his 168 days in orbit, he conducted four spacewalks, further cementing his legacy in space exploration.

The Artemis II Mission: Paving the Way Forward

As the pilot of the Orion spacecraft for Artemis II, Glover will be instrumental in testing the critical navigation and control systems essential for future lunar landings and potential missions to Mars. The mission is set to launch from Florida’s Launch Complex 39B.

Glover is joined by a diverse and accomplished crew: Commander Reid Wiseman, Mission Specialist Christina Koch (the first woman to travel to the Moon), and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (the first Canadian to journey to the Moon). While this mission won’t land on the lunar surface, the crew will perform a high-speed flyby, reaching approximately 252,000 miles from Earth—further than any human has traveled before.

A Test Flight for Future Exploration

Artemis II is designed as a crucial “proving flight” to ensure the reliability of NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion capsule. The mission will test their ability to safely support human life in the challenging deep space radiation environment. This historic journey is a vital step towards humanity’s return to the Moon and beyond.