3 Artemis II Astronauts Leave Active Duty After April Moon Flight

Q: What undisclosed plans is Reid Wiseman pursuing after suddenly stepping down from active NASA duty this month?

Reid Wiseman’s post-NASA plans have not been publicly disclosed. What NASA has said is that Wiseman is moving to emeritus astronaut status later this month, ending active astronaut duty while remaining tied to the Artemis program. In that role, he is expected to help train and mentor astronauts, flight controllers and engineers, and pass along operational lessons from Artemis II to support upcoming missions, including Artemis III and Artemis IV. Unlike Victor Glover, whose next step is clear through his new leadership job at California Polytechnic State University, Wiseman has not announced an outside position or explained what opportunity he is pursuing beyond NASA. Public reporting and NASA’s own statement leave that part unanswered. There are signs he will remain visible in aerospace and space advocacy circles — including public appearances and speaking engagements after Artemis II — but no official information indicates a specific employer, academic role, commercial space post or retirement plan. As of now, the only confirmed fact is that he is stepping away from active astronaut service while continuing to advise NASA through the emeritus program.

3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Sep 10

Three of the four Artemis II astronauts have now shifted out of active-duty roles: NASA's Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover moved to emeritus status in September, while Canada's Jeremy Hansen entered military reserve service.
NASA said Wiseman and Glover will stay involved as consultants helping prepare Artemis III in 2027 and later missions, even as emeritus status lets them pursue other work outside active astronaut duty.
Glover's change already took effect Sept. 1 with a full-time leadership job at California Polytechnic State University, while Wiseman has not announced separate career plans.
Hansen said his Artemis II duties ended Sept. 2; after retiring as a Royal Canadian Air Force colonel, he joined 3 Canadian Space Division reserves and took a national Air Cadet League role.
The moves follow Artemis II's April lunar flight—the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since 1972—and come weeks after the crew received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.