The crew of the Artemis II mission has requested that NASA rename a lunar crater to honor the late wife of the mission’s commander, turning a milestone of scientific exploration into a deeply personal tribute.
The proposal seeks to name a specific lunar feature “Carroll” in memory of Carroll Wiseman, the wife of Commander Reid Wiseman. Carroll Wiseman passed away from cancer in 2020 at the age of 46.
The request was made during the mission’s transit, as the crew observed the lunar surface from their vantage point. Astronaut Jeremy Hansen communicated the crew’s wish to NASA’s Kelsey Young, noting that the team wanted to identify and name several craters they could see “both with the naked eye and with our long lens.”
One such feature, described as a distinct bright spot on the lunar surface, was identified as the primary candidate for the tribute.
The human element of lunar exploration
While the Artemis program is primarily a technical endeavor aimed at establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon, the request for the Artemis 2 lunar crater naming underscores the profound personal toll and motivation behind spaceflight. For astronauts, the vastness of space often brings an acute awareness of the people and losses left behind on Earth.
The gesture was supported by the entire crew, reflecting the tight-knit bond formed during the rigorous training and the isolation of the mission. By associating a permanent celestial feature with Carroll Wiseman, the crew intends to create a lasting memorial that transcends terrestrial boundaries.
This moment of vulnerability and reflection was captured in a video shared by the crew, showing the astronauts becoming visibly emotional as they discussed the proposal. The transparency of the interaction provides a rare glimpse into the psychological landscape of modern astronauts, who balance the precision of aerospace engineering with the complexities of grief, and love.
The protocol for naming the Moon
Though the crew has expressed their desire, the official naming of lunar features is not a unilateral decision. The authority for designating names of celestial bodies rests with the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which maintains a strict set of guidelines to ensure consistency and avoid duplication across lunar maps.
Typically, the IAU favors naming craters after deceased scientists, explorers, or figures who have made significant contributions to humanity. Although, there is a historical precedent for honoring individuals through the naming of smaller, less prominent features, provided the request is formally submitted and reviewed by the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature.
The “bright spot” identified by the crew may be a result of high-albedo material—freshly exposed lunar soil from a relatively recent impact—which makes it more visible from orbit. This visibility makes it a poetic choice for a memorial, as it can be seen not only by the crew but potentially by future lunar explorers.
Artemis II Mission Overview
The Artemis II mission represents the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, serving as a critical precursor to the Artemis III landing. The mission’s primary objective is to test the spacecraft’s life-support systems and navigation capabilities in a deep-space environment.
| Name | Role | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Reid Wiseman | Commander | USA |
| Victor Glover | Pilot | USA |
| Christina Koch | Mission Specialist | USA |
| Jeremy Hansen | Mission Specialist | Canada |
The legacy of the Artemis program
The naming of a crater after Carroll Wiseman fits into a broader tradition of space exploration where the cosmos serves as a canvas for human memory. From the plaques left on the Moon during the Apollo missions to the naming of Mars craters, the act of mapping the heavens has often been an act of remembering.
For the family of Carroll Wiseman, the proposal offers a unique form of closure, placing her name among the stars and the craters of a world that humanity is only now beginning to truly understand. It transforms a site of geological impact into a site of emotional significance.
NASA has not yet officially confirmed if the IAU will adopt the name “Carroll” for the crater, but the agency has historically supported gestures that highlight the human spirit and the personal sacrifices made by those in the astronaut corps.
The crew continues their mission, with the next confirmed checkpoint being their return trajectory toward Earth, where they will undergo post-flight debriefings and medical evaluations. A formal proposal to the IAU is expected to follow the mission’s conclusion.
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