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Black American NASA fans and astronomy enthusiasts are celebrating NASA Astronaut Victor J. Glover, Jr. (Captain, U.S. Navy) who is set to become the first person of color on a lunar mission and will also be amongst the first humans to fly to the vicinity of the Moon. The Southern California native from Pomona will be joining three other astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.
There is lots to learn about the highly successful Pilot Glover who’s mission this time around will be his second spaceflight, serving previously as pilot on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1, which landed May 2, 2021, after 168 days in space. As a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 64, he contributed to scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and participated in four spacewalks.
Through Artemis missions, NASA will use innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.
The flight, set to build upon the successful uncrewed Artemis I mission completed in December, 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. This is the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach.
The approximately 10-day Artemis II flight test will launch on the agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft’s life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.
Born in Pomona Victor J. Glover, Jr. is married to the former Dionna Odom of Berkeley, California. They have four children. He graduated from Ontario High School, Ontario, California in 1994. He earned his Bachelor of Science in General Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California in 1999. He also received a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering (USAF TPS) from Air University located at the Edwards Air Force Base, California in 2007. He earned another Master of Science in Systems Engineering (PD-21) from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2009 and in 2010 earned yet another Master in Military Operational Art and Science from Air University in Montgomery, Alabama.
Glover was selected as an astronaut in 2013 while serving as a Legislative Fellow in the United States Senate. He most recently served as pilot and second-in-command on the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon, named Resilience, which landed May 2, 2021. It is the first post-certification mission of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft – the second crewed flight for that vehicle – and a long duration mission aboard the International Space Station. He also served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 64. Glover has been assigned as Pilot of NASA’s Artemis II mission.
Glover is a Naval Aviator and was a test pilot in the F/A‐18 Hornet, Super Hornet and EA‐18G Growler. He and his family have been stationed in many locations in the United States and Japan and he has deployed in combat and peacetime.
