Just before 2 PM ET on Monday, the Artemis II crew achieved a historic milestone by breaking a 56-year-old record previously held by the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission. By traveling over 248,655 miles from Earth, they have ventured farther into space than any humans before them. To commemorate this achievement, the crew held a heartfelt ceremony in lunar orbit, culminating in an emotional embrace.
During the ceremony, the Artemis II crew proposed names for two lunar craters. The first was named “Integrity” in honor of their spacecraft. The second crater’s name held a more personal significance. Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen explained during NASA’s live broadcast that the name was a tribute to a beloved member of their close astronaut family. “Several years ago, we embarked on this journey together, and we lost someone dear to us,” Hansen shared. “Her name was Carroll, the spouse of Reid, and mother to Katie and Ellie.”
Hansen described the crater as “a bright spot on the Moon” and announced, “We would like to call it Carroll.” As Hansen made this touching announcement, the crew gathered in the spacecraft, Integrity, to share a moment of unity. Carroll Wiseman, the wife of commander Reid Wiseman, passed away from cancer in 2020 at the age of 46, leaving behind a lasting legacy.
