NASA has announced the four astronauts who will fly around the moon late next year, including the first African American, the first woman, and the first Canadian assigned to the mission.

First moon crew in 50 years

The first moon crew in 50 years was introduced during an event at Ellington Field near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen, will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations during the flight test.

Historic mission

The flight will set the stage for the first woman and first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis program, paving the way for future for long-term human exploration missions to the Moon, and eventually Mars.

“For the first time in more than 50 years, these individuals – the Artemis II crew – will be the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. Among the crew are the first woman, first person of color, and first Canadian on a lunar mission, and all four astronauts will represent the best of humanity as they explore for the benefit of all,” said Director Vanessa Wyche, NASA Johnson. “This mission paves the way for the expansion of human deep space exploration and presents new opportunities for scientific discoveries, commercial, industry and academic partnerships and the Artemis Generation.”

Launch date

Artemis II is set to take off around November 2024. The crew members, strapped inside the Orion spacecraft, will launch atop a NASA-developed Space Launch System rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mission is expected to last about 10 days and will send the crew out beyond the moon, potentially further than any human has traveled in history.

When NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins launches to the International Space Station next year, she will make history.

ISS Mission

The Maryland native is set to become the first Black woman to join the international space station crew, and live and work in space on a six month mission on the orbiting outpost.

The agency announced Tuesday that Watkins will fly to the space station in April 2022, alongside NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Robert Hines and astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency.

The crew for this mission — known as Crew-4 — will be the fourth rotation of astronauts on the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS.

Jessica Watkins Space Journey

Watkins became a NASA astronaut in 2017 and has worked in the space agency’s research centers, particularly on the Mars rover, Curiosity.

Watkins says she grew up admiring astronauts like Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. And she hopes her work aboard the ISS will inspire more kids of color to aspire to space travel.

“I do hope that all young girls, especially young girls of color that are interested in STEM and interested in exploring space, feel empowered to do so,” Watkins told Colorado Public Radio last year. “I just hope young girls across the country feel that way now.”

Photo Source : NASA

Georgia native Joshua Dobbs is not only a quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars but he’s also a rocket scientist with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Dobbs graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a degree in aerospace engineering.

Dobbs was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers while playing quarterback for the Vols. He would then be traded to Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 where he deputizes for Gardner Minshew.

Following the emergence of coronavirus, which has led to the suspension of almost all sporting activities globally, Dobbs decided to put his academic acumen, as well as, the aerospace degree to good use.

Joshua Dobbs is a NASA Scientist 

After completing two externships at global aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney working on jet engines for fighter planes, Dobbs took a job as an extern for NASA, reports USA Today.

For nearly three weeks in February, Dobbs was at Kennedy Space Center in Florida working on NASA’s mobile launcher in the instrumentation department.

“It felt like every part of Kennedy Space Center kind of wanted to show me what was going on,” Dobbs told USA Today.

“Every single day was different, so I got a chance to learn kind of the ins and outs, everything that goes on, and how everything comes together to support the rocket on launch day.”

“Whether you’re on a football field or down there, it’s a team,” Dobbs said.

“At the end of the day for us, we’re trying to win football games, trying to win a Super Bowl. For them, at the end of the day they’re trying to send a rocket to the moon. So everyone has their big goal.”

Football career

Though he hasn’t had many opportunities in the NFL, Dobbs was a standout college quarterback and passed for 7,138 yards, 53 touchdowns and 29 interceptions in 37 career games with the Vols while adding 2,160 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground.

Check out what Dobbs has going on by visiting his Instagram.