Artemis II crew turns the idiom 'I love you to the moon and back' into reality with lunar tribute by proposing to name a crater after commander's late wife Carroll - watch NASA's viral reel here

Artemis II crew names crater Carroll: As the Artemis II astronauts made their way around the Moon, breaking distance records and marking a new chapter in human spaceflight, they also took a moment to remember someone who wasn’t with them, but clearly close to their hearts.

Artemis II Crew Honors Late Wife With Moon Crater Tribute

During the mission, Artemis II mission specialist Jeremy Hansen radioed down to mission control with a simple but emotional request. The crew wanted to name a newly observed lunar crater after Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman.

NASA Shares Artemis II Tribute Video on Instagram: Jeremy Hansen Proposes Naming Lunar Crater ‘Carroll’

NASA shared a reel on its Instagram account, captioned "Leaving a mark on our hearts and on the Moon," where Hansen is heard saying, "A number of years ago, we started this journey, and our close-knit astronaut family, and we lost a loved one. Her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katey and Ellie.” As the crew reflected on their journey together, looking at the Moon’s surface, Hansen shared that they spotted a crater and described it as “a bright spot on the moon,” adding that, “We would like to call it ‘Carroll.’”

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Emotional Moment as Astronauts Remember Carroll Wiseman in Space

Inside the spacecraft, the moment quickly turned emotional. Wiseman wiped away tears as Hansen spoke, and fellow astronauts Christina Koch and Victor Glover joined Hansen in embracing him. Floating in zero gravity, the group shared a quiet, heartfelt moment that stood apart from the mission’s technical milestones.

Who Was Carroll Taylor Wiseman

Carroll Taylor Wiseman, who died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 46, had dedicated her life to caring for others. She worked as a newborn intensive care unit registered nurse, as well as a pediatric nurse practitioner and school nurse, as per an ABC News report.

Reid Wiseman’s Journey as a Single Father

Back on Earth, Wiseman is raising their two daughters, Ellie and Katherine. In his NASA biography, he described being a single parent as one of the greatest challenges of his life, but also the most rewarding. Ahead of the mission, he shared a photo with his daughters, writing that he was boarding the rocket as a “very proud father.”

Artemis II Breaks Record for Farthest Human Space Travel

The tribute came shortly after the crew completed their lunar flyby, traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them and surpassing the record set during the Apollo 13 mission in 1970. At their most distant point, they were more than 248,000 miles away.

‘Carroll’ and ‘Integrity’: Lunar Crater Names Proposed

Alongside naming the crater “Carroll,” the crew also proposed a second name, “Integrity,” after their Orion spacecraft. Both names will be submitted to the International Astronomical Union for official approval, as per a NBC News report.

Artemis II Mission Nears End With Planned Splashdown

Now on the ninth day of their 10-day journey, the astronauts have begun their return home and are expected to splash down off the coast of San Diego on Friday.

FAQs

Why did the crew name a crater “Carroll”?
To honor commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife in a deeply personal way.

Is the name official yet?
No, it will be reviewed by the International Astronomical Union.