What’s next for Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover after NASA mission

Months after captivating the world with a journey around the moon, the crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission is pivoting away from active flight assignments. The transition allows the seasoned spacefarers to serve as specialized consultants while pursuing new chapters outside the day-to-day astronaut rotation. Following their landmark Artemis II mission earlier this year, distinguished NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman are transitioning in September to emeritus status at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, as announced on Wednesday (Sept. 9). In an emeritus role, individuals with a high degree of technical and professional knowledge can continue to support the agency by donating their time to train and mentor the current workforce. This allows the agency to maintain access to top talent in a specialized consultant role, while simultaneously providing the individual with the flexibility to pursue other opportunities.

Victor Glover Takes On Full-Time Administrative Role at Cal Poly

For Glover, stepping back from active spaceflight duties means returning home to his alma mater. In his new role, Glover will help shape Cal Poly’s long-term strategies that position the university (including the Cal Poly Maritime Academy) as a global leader in polytechnic education, research innovation and workforce production. Glover graduated from the institution with an engineering degree in 1999, laying the groundwork for a career that eventually included commanding roles in naval aviation, a fellowship with Senator John McCain, and piloting the second crewed flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon before his landmark lunar voyage. A 1999 graduate with a degree in engineering, Glover has long pointed to Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing education and his experience as a student-athlete in wrestling and football as key to his professional success as a Navy fighter pilot, a legislative fellow with Sen. John McCain.

Artemis II Crew to Receive Top US Space Medal

Rather than managing a standard classroom or departmental board, Glover’s role is designed to be flexible and far-reaching. He will work collaboratively with the president, provost, college deans and other university leaders to identify, develop and accelerate strategic initiatives, partnerships and philanthropy aimed at expanding the university’s leadership in engineering, applied computing, aerospace, aviation, maritime, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, autonomous systems and national defense. He will also serve an ambassadorial role, representing the university at strategic engagements and championing initiatives that inspire the next generation of students to pursue STEM-related disciplines. It’s not going to be nine to five, Glover explained in an interview with Space.com, noting that he is not a faculty member, does not have a class he has to teach or a board that he oversees, and will go where the school needs him the most and where he can highlight what great work they’re already doing.

The Emeritus Program and the Road to Artemis III

While Glover takes on his campus responsibilities, both he and Wiseman maintain a formal connection to NASA through the agency’s emeritus consultant framework. Even astronauts who do fully retire from NASA are still retained in the system, Glover told Space.com, noting that he gets a badge that is a little bit different, can come back, has a NASA email address, and is considered a special government employee. The designation grants them active access, ensuring their hard-earned operational insights remain available to the agency.

Donald Trump Awards Space Medal of Honor to Artemis II Crew

“As I grow into this new role, NASA and spaceflight remain a meaningful part of my journey of service,” said Glover. “I’m excited to keep uplifting my friends and cheering them on as they reach for the Moon. Together, we’ll keep pushing boundaries and inspiring the next giant leap.”

Victor Glover, Artemis II Pilot, via NASA

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised the outgoing crew members for continuing to share their expertise with flight controllers and engineers as the space agency ramps up preparations for the upcoming Artemis III mission in 2027 and the missions that follow. 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. “Reid commanded Artemis II after previously spending 165 days aboard the International Space Station, while Victor brought his experience as a naval aviator, test pilot, and Crew-1 astronaut to his role as pilot. Together, they took on one of the most challenging missions in human spaceflight and helped return America to the lunar environment. As Reid and Victor transition to emeritus status, I’m grateful they will continue sharing what they learned with our astronauts, flight controllers, and engineers as we prepare for Artemis III in 2027 and the missions that follow.” Glover will support aerospace, leadership, and public service efforts as he transitions within and outside of NASA, and is committed to transferring his knowledge of Orion and its spacecraft systems, among other expertise, to future Artemis missions.

NC State honors astronaut Christina Koch with building name, ice cream flavor

Canadian Astronaut Jeremy Hansen Shifts to Military Reserves

While the American crew members transition within NASA, their international colleague on the four-person Artemis II roster has also altered his official status. Canadian mission specialist Jeremy Hansen shared a video on X on Tuesday (Sept. 8) concerning his already-announced transfer from active duty to reserve status. The historic journey was widely expected to be the last step in active astronaut duty for at least some of the mission’s four astronauts, especially Hansen, who had waited for a flight assignment for 17 years in part due to how Canadian Space Agency funding is allocated, given that robotics provided by the CSA form a minority share of international space partnerships with NASA and astronaut flight rates are tied to funding.

The fourth member of the historic lunar quartet, NASA mission specialist Christina Koch, appears to still be on active duty, as no announcements have been made saying otherwise. The Artemis II quartet flew around the moon in April, becoming the first people to go beyond low Earth orbit since 1972.