NASA has announced that two key figures from its upcoming Artemis II moon mission, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, will be retiring from active astronaut status. Instead of leaving the space agency entirely, they will transition into the role of emeritus astronauts, continuing to support NASA's lunar exploration efforts through mentorship and knowledge-sharing. Wiseman’s transition will take effect this month, while Glover has taken on a leadership position at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), starting on September 1. Christina Koch remains the sole active astronaut among the Artemis II crew. Wiseman and Glover made history in April when they traveled around the moon with two other astronauts, setting a new record for the farthest distance traveled by humans. They were selected by NASA as astronauts in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Wiseman, a retired Navy captain, spent over five months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014 and later became NASA’s chief astronaut. Glover, who previously served as a Navy test pilot, joined NASA and piloted the second crewed mission to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Crew Demo-2 flight in 2020 and 2021. As emeritus astronauts, Wiseman and Glover will continue to contribute to NASA by training and mentoring agency personnel and sharing their expertise to support future lunar missions. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman praised their efforts, noting that they undertook one of the most challenging missions in human spaceflight and helped reestablish America’s presence on the moon. Their contributions, both during and after their missions, are seen as vital to NASA’s long-term goals. Glover’s new role at Cal Poly will involve shaping long-term strategies and inspiring students to pursue careers in science and engineering. Wiseman’s future plans have not been disclosed. Earlier this month, the Artemis II crew was honored with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. During their mission, Wiseman requested permission to name a lunar crater after his late wife, Carroll, who passed away from cancer in 2020. Glover, known for his thoughtful reflections, described Earth as an oasis in the vastness of the universe, emphasizing the unity of humanity in the cosmos.