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Victor Glover is taking on a major role in NASA’s next chapter of space exploration. The seasoned astronaut and U.S. Navy captain has been selected as the pilot of the Artemis II mission, a groundbreaking flight that will send a four-person crew on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon—the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit in more than 50 years. Alongside Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, Glover will help guide the mission as it tests NASA’s Orion spacecraft and pushes farther into deep space than any human mission since the Apollo era.
He is also set to make history as the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit and journey around the Moon, marking a major milestone for representation in space exploration
Here’s everything to know about his background, career, and path to this milestone mission.
He Grew Up in Pomona, California
Glover was born and raised in Pomona, California. He later attended California Polytechnic State University, where he studied engineering and even played college sports.
He Is a U.S. Navy Captain and Test Pilot
Before becoming an astronaut, Glover served as a U.S. Navy captain and test pilot, flying F/A-18 aircraft and logging thousands of flight hours across more than 40 aircraft. He also completed combat missions and hundreds of aircraft carrier landings during his military career.
Nicknamed “IKE”—short for “I Know Everything”—by a commanding officer, Glover is known for his sharp memory and attention to detail.
His Artemis II crewmate Wiseman even praised that skill, saying, “I truly have never met a human being with a memory like his… He truly remembers, literal word for word, details in conversations from years ago,” adding that Glover’s precision “has made me such a better astronaut.”
NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Artemis II commander, left, Victor Glover, Artemis II pilot, Christina Koch, Artemis II mission specialist, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II mission specialist, right, stop for a group photograph as they visit NASA’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, Monday, March 30, 2026, at Launch Complex 39B of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)He Was the First Black Astronaut to Live on the ISS Long-Term
Glover made history on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission when he became the first Black astronaut to serve as a long-duration crew member aboard the International Space Station, spending about six months in orbit.
He Is Married to His Wife, Dionna Glover
Victor is married to his wife, Dionna Glover, and the couple lives in Houston.
He Is a Father of Four Children
With his wife, Glover is a father of four daughters.
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