Reid Wiseman broke down in tears during the 10-day Artemis II mission as his crew gave a poignant tribute to his late wife, Carroll Wiseman.
The Artemis II mission is making headlines following its successful historic launch on April 1, 2026. This 10-day mission marks the first time humans have left Earth's orbit and travelled towards the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The four-person crew of the mission consists of NASA's Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), and Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), along with CSA's Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist). Amid the mission, Reid's teammates gave his late wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman a heartwarming tribute. Here's everything we know about it.
The Artemis II mission is currently on its 10-day journey around the Moon, having recently surpassed the distance record set by Apollo 13. Amid that, the Artemis II team had a deeply moving moment, which was broadcast from the Orion spacecraft on April 6, 2026. The crew paid a special tribute to Commander, Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman, by proposing to name a newly discovered lunar crater in her honour, as per CNBC. While travelling farther from Earth than any humans in history, mission specialist, Jeremy Hansen called Mission Control to request the naming of two previously unnamed craters, identified during their lunar observation.
The crew proposed Integrity, their capsule's name, and Carroll crater for the bright spots on the boundary between the near and far sides of the Moon. Reportedly, because of its location, the crater will be visible from Earth at certain points in the lunar cycle, allowing Reid Wiseman's daughters, Katie and Ellie Wiseman, to see it when looking up at the night sky. This heartwarming gesture from the Artemis II crew not only moved Reid but also touched viewers' hearts.
As Jeremy Hansen requested that a crater be named after Reid Wiseman's wife, his voice broke with emotion. Commander, Reid and mission specialist, Christina Koch were seen wiping their tearful eyes. The live feed captured all four astronauts, Reid, Christina, Jeremy, and Victor Glover, sharing a rare, raw moment of vulnerability. They embraced in a group hug inside the capsule to console Reid, who became overwhelmed with emotion.
Carroll Taylor Wiseman dedicated her professional life to healthcare and serving others. She was a pediatric nurse practitioner who worked in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD). Carroll also served as a school nurse in Patuxent River, Maryland, and later in Friendswood, Texas. Talking of her academic background, she was a graduate of First Colonial High School, James Madison University, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Carroll married Reid Wiseman in 2003, and after 17 years together, she passed away.
Carroll died on May 17, 2020, at the age of 46, after a five-year battle with cancer, leaving behind Reid and their two daughters, Katie and Ellie Wiseman. Her husband, Reid has often spoken about the difficulties of being a single father to their two daughters and how their support pushed him to accept the commander role for this historic Artemis II mission. Raising them alone was the "greatest challenge" for him.
During his wife's illness, Reid stepped back from active flight duty to serve in administrative leadership roles at the Astronaut Office, staying close to his family. He even wanted to quit his job altogether, but Carroll didn't let him, knowing how much he loved his work. At that time, he also wanted to move her back to where her family was from. However, Carroll had refused to relocate despite fighting cancer.
What are your thoughts on the Artemis II crew's heartwarming tribute to their mission Commander's late wife? Let us know.
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