In a poignant moment during the Artemis II mission, astronaut Reid Wiseman and his crew proposed naming a Moon crater “Carroll” in honor of his late wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman, who passed away from cancer in 2020 at the age of 46. This announcement came shortly after the crew lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026.
The Artemis II crew, which includes Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, has made history by surpassing the Apollo 13 mission milestone for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth. They are expected to splashdown off the coast of San Diego, California, on April 10, 2026.
During their mission, the crew will witness a solar eclipse and come within 4,070 miles of the Moon’s surface. The crater “Carroll” is located near Glushko on the Moon’s surface, and the naming will be submitted to the International Astronomical Union for approval.
In a heartfelt statement, Hansen remarked, “We lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katie and Ellie.” He emphasized the emotional significance of the naming, stating, “Integrity and Carroll Crater, loud and clear. Thank you.”
The crew also named another crater “Integrity” after the Orion spacecraft, reflecting the values of trust and respect that underpin their mission. NASA commented, “The name Integrity embodies the foundation of trust, respect, candor, and humility across the crew and the many engineers, technicians, scientists, planners, and dreamers required for mission success.”
This mission marks a significant step in NASA’s Artemis program, aimed at returning humans to the Moon and establishing a sustainable presence there. The crew will undergo post-flight medical evaluations after returning to Earth, ensuring their health and safety following this historic journey.
As the mission progresses, the crew’s achievements and the emotional tribute to Wiseman’s late wife resonate deeply with the public and the space community alike. It was an emotional moment broadcast live across NASA’s channels, highlighting the personal stories that intertwine with the broader narrative of space exploration.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline of events during the mission, but the crew’s commitment to honoring Carroll Wiseman remains a central theme as they navigate this groundbreaking journey.
