The commander and pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission have joined a new program, allowing them to continue their work with the space agency while pursuing their own career paths. Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover will remain available to train and mentor future astronauts, while Glover takes up an administrative role at his alma mater, Cal Poly, in San Luis Obispo.

‘Emeritus’ status means they can still contribute to NASA’s Orion spacecraft programs, albeit without pay. Glover plans to voluntarily advise on life in the spacecraft, helping shape the United States Space Academy, a new initiative aimed at NASA and the US Space Force.

‘I have asked NASA … to not use the term “retire” as much, but technically emeritus is a retirement program,’ said Glover, reflecting on the new arrangement. ‘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.’

Wiseman and Glover’s continued involvement with NASA underscores the agency’s commitment to leveraging the expertise of its former astronauts, ensuring they remain active contributors to space exploration.