Artemis II Crew Honours Commander's Late Wife by Naming Moon Crater After Her
In a deeply moving gesture, the Artemis II crew proposed naming a lunar crater after Commander Reid Wiseman's wife, who passed away from cancer in 2020.
A Tribute Written in the Stars
Space exploration has always carried a deeply human dimension, but the crew of NASA's Artemis II mission recently demonstrated just how personal that connection can be. During the mission, the astronauts proposed naming a crater on the Moon after Commander Reid Wiseman's late wife — a heartfelt act of remembrance that has resonated with people around the world.
The Story Behind the Name
Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, speaking with NASA scientist Kelsey Young during the Artemis II mission, expressed the crew's desire to name several lunar craters that were visible to them — both with the naked eye and through long-range lenses.
Among those craters, a distinctive bright feature near the Moon's surface caught their attention. The crew put forward the name "Carroll" in honour of Carroll Taylor Wiseman, the commander's beloved wife, who lost her battle with cancer in 2020 at just 46 years old.
A Loss That Shaped a Mission
Reid Wiseman's wife passed away five years before the Artemis II mission launched, yet her memory clearly travels with the crew. By proposing to etch her name onto the surface of the Moon, the astronauts transformed a scientific milestone into an enduring personal tribute.
The Significance of the Gesture
Naming celestial features after individuals is a long-standing tradition in space exploration, typically reserved for scientists, explorers, and pioneers. In this case, the crew's proposal elevates a deeply private grief into something universal — a reminder that behind every mission are human beings carrying their own stories, sorrows, and love.
The name "Carroll" on the lunar surface would serve as a permanent memorial, visible from Earth and lasting far beyond any human lifetime.
About the Artemis II Mission
Artemis II represents NASA's first crewed mission under the broader Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon. The crew, which includes Commander Reid Wiseman and astronaut Jeremy Hansen among others, has been training since 2023 at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. The mission marks a historic step forward in deep space exploration and lays the groundwork for future lunar landings.
