The Orion spacecraft set to embark on NASA's Artemis 2 mission, the first crewed lunar voyage in over 50 years, has officially been named. The four astronauts – Commander Reid Wiseman (NASA), Pilot Victor Glover (NASA), and Mission Specialists Christina Koch (NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency) – have chosen "Integrity" as its moniker. The launch window stretches from February 5th to April 26th, 2026, propelling the astronauts on a roughly ten-day loop around the moon and back. This pivotal mission, launching atop the Space Launch System rocket, paves the way for Artemis 3's planned 2027 lunar south pole landing.
The selection of "Integrity" wasn't arbitrary; the crew engaged in a meticulous process, according to Wiseman. He described a period of intense deliberation at the Johnson Space Center's quarantine facility, involving the Artemis 2 crew and their backups, Jenny Gibbons (Canadian Space Agency) and Andre Douglas (NASA). They thoroughly examined NASA and Canadian Space Agency core values, ultimately settling on "Integrity" as it best represents the mission's essence: a testament to the collaborative effort of hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide, and a symbol of trust and mutual respect that underlies the mission's success.
"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," NASA officials stated. The choice also reflects the immense technological integration, encompassing over 300,000 spacecraft components and countless hours of dedicated work, necessary for a successful lunar journey.
The Artemis 2 mission serves as a crucial stepping stone in NASA's broader Artemis program. This ambitious program aims to establish a lasting human presence on and around the moon, ultimately paving the path for future expeditions to Mars. This tradition of astronaut-selected names continues a legacy of human spaceflight, reflecting a connection between those who brave the cosmos and the machines that carry them. Previous missions have also embraced this practice, notably the SpaceX Ax-4 mission, where the crew named their Crew Dragon capsule 'Grace'. With "Integrity" firmly chosen, the world awaits the launch of this historic mission and the next chapter in lunar exploration.
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Originally published at: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/meet-integrity-artemis-2-astronauts-name-the-spacecraft-that-will-fly-them-around-the-moon
