NASA has selected astronaut Andre Douglas as its backup crew member for the agency\u2019s Artemis II test flight, the first crewed mission under NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign.<\/p>\nDouglas will train alongside NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.<\/p>\n
In the event a NASA astronaut is unable to take part in the flight, Douglas would join the Artemis II crew.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndre\u2019s educational background and extensive operational experience in his various jobs prior to joining NASA are clear evidence of his readiness to support this mission,\u201d said Joe Acaba, chief astronaut at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston. \u201cHe excelled in his astronaut candidate training and technical assignments, and we are confident he will continue to do so as NASA\u2019s backup crew member for Artemis II.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
The CSA announced Jenni Gibbons as its backup crew member in November 2023. Gibbons would step into the mission to represent Canada should Hansen not be available.<\/p>\n
\u201cCanada\u2019s seat on the historic Artemis II flight is a direct result of our contribution of\u00a0Canadarm3\u00a0to the\u00a0lunar Gateway. Jenni Gibbons\u2019 assignment as backup is of utmost importance for our country,\u201d said CSA President Lisa Campbell. \u201cSince being recruited, Jenni has distinguished herself repeatedly through her work with NASA and the CSA. She is also a tremendous role model for Canada\u2019s future scientists, engineers, and explorers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The selection of Douglas and Gibbons as backup crew members for Artemis II is independent of the selection of crew members for Artemis III. NASA has not yet selected crew members for Artemis flights beyond Artemis II. All active NASA astronauts are eligible for assignment to any human spaceflight mission.<\/p>\n
The approximately 10-day Artemis II test flight will launch on the agency\u2019s powerful SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft\u2019s life-support systems, and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and work in deep space.<\/p>\n
More on Artemis II backup crew<\/strong><\/p>\nDouglas graduated from NASA\u2019s astronaut candidate training program in March 2024. He is a Virginia native and earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, as well as four post-graduate degrees from various institutions, including a doctorate in Systems Engineering from George Washington University in Washington. Douglas served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a naval architect, salvage engineer, damage control assistant, and officer of the deck. He also worked as a staff member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, working on maritime robotics, planetary defense, and space exploration missions for NASA. Douglas participated in the Joint EVA and Human Surface Mobility Test Team 5, working with a specialized group that develops, integrates, and executes human-in-the-loop tests, analog missions, and Moonwalks. Most recently, Douglas worked with teams on the development of the lunar terrain vehicle, pressurized rover, lunar Gateway and lunar spacesuit.<\/p>\n
Gibbons was recruited as a CSA astronaut in 2017 and completed her basic training in 2020. Since then, Gibbons has continued to serve Canada\u2019s space program and has worked in different positions, including Mission Control as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) during spacewalks, and commercial spacecraft and daily International Space Station operations. Gibbons holds an honors bachelor\u2019s degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University in Montreal. While at McGill, she conducted research on flame propagation in microgravity in collaboration with CSA\u00a0and Canada\u2019s National Research Council Flight Research Laboratory in Ontario. She holds a doctorate in engineering from Jesus College at the University of Cambridge, England.<\/p>\n
Under NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign, the agency is establishing the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Learn more about NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign at:<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n-end-<\/p>\n
Rachel Kraft\/Madison Tuttle
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov\/madison.e.tuttle@nasa.gov<\/p>\n
Courtney Beasley
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
courtney.m.beasley@nasa.gov<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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