Artemis 2 Crew Portrait (section)

Four people in vivid orange suits gaze steadily out from a deep, shadowy background, and every face here belongs to a real astronaut. This is NASA's 2023 portrait of the Artemis 2 crew: Christina Koch on the left, Victor Glover seated just above center, Reid Wiseman in front, and Jeremy Hansen on the right. The small Canadian flag on Hansen's shoulder sets him apart, since he flies for the Canadian Space Agency while his three crewmates represent the United States. Together, these four are preparing to loop around the Moon and return home, the first crew to reach lunar space in more than half a century.

Behind the simple pose sits a good deal of history. Koch is set to become the first woman to travel to the Moon, and Glover the first person of color to make the trip. The bright suits they wear, known as launch and entry suits, are built to protect astronauts during the riskiest moments of a flight. The plain dark backdrop and the crew's calm, direct expressions give the image the feel of an old studio photograph. Rather than showing off rockets or gadgets, it keeps the focus on four people who happen to be facing an enormous journey.