Artemis II commander and pilot become NASA's first astronaut emeriti

Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, the commander and pilot of NASA's Artemis II mission, have become the first astronauts to join the space agency's emeritus program, five months after returning from the Moon.

Under the emeritus designation, both astronauts are not fully retiring. They will remain available to train and mentor the current workforce at Johnson Space Center in Houston while being able to pursue employment and opportunities outside of NASA.

"I have asked NASA ... to not use the term 'retire' as much, but technically emeritus is a retirement program," Glover told collectSPACE.com on Wednesday. "It's something we have typically done for scientists when they have groundbreaking research, and they want to go back to academia to teach or to research and publish."

The program, previously used for agency scientists, is now being extended to astronauts for the first time, marking a shift in how NASA manages the transition of experienced crew members after active flight duties.

Why This Matters

New career pathway: The astronaut emeritus program creates a formal route for veteran astronauts to remain engaged with NASA's human spaceflight efforts without the full-time demands of active duty or the finality of retirement.
Knowledge transfer: With the Artemis campaign ongoing and future Moon and Mars missions on the horizon, retaining Wiseman and Glover's expertise in training and mentorship helps preserve institutional knowledge.
Precedent-setting: This first use of the emeritus status for astronauts could become a model for how NASA handles post-flight careers for crew members on long-duration and exploration-class missions.

Background

The Artemis II mission was the first crewed flight of NASA's Artemis program, sending astronauts around the Moon and back. The success of that mission paved the way for subsequent lunar landing attempts. NASA's astronaut corps has historically seen members leave the agency after active flight assignments, either retiring entirely or moving to private sector roles. The emeritus program, traditionally reserved for scientists with distinguished careers, now offers astronauts a middle path that retains a formal link to the agency while granting flexibility for outside work.

Key Perspectives

Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover (Artemis II commander and pilot): Both astronauts have expressed a desire to stay involved with NASA's mission beyond active flight status, valuing the opportunity to train and mentor the next generation of explorers. NASA leadership: The emeritus program allows the agency to retain experienced personnel who can contribute to training and mission support without requiring them to remain on full-time active duty. Critics/Skeptics: Some may question whether the emeritus designation dilutes the distinction of active astronaut status or creates confusion about official roles within the agency.

What to Watch

Whether other Artemis crew members or veteran astronauts pursue emeritus status in the coming years.
How the program evolves in terms of duties, benefits, and retention of technical expertise.
Potential impacts on NASA's astronaut selection and career progression policies as the agency balances active and emeritus roles.

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