Grand Rapids Native To Be Part of NASA’s First Moon crew In 50 Years

On Monday NASA named four astronauts who will fly around the moon late next year, including the first woman and the first African American assigned to a lunar mission.

The announcement took place in Houston, Texas which is the home to Mission Control for NASA.

When Was NASA's First Trip To The Moon?

NASA's first trip to the moon was on July 20, 1969, when the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon's surface.

Left to right, are Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot.

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When Is The Last Time NASA Went To The Moon?

It's been over 40 years since NASA has been to the moon. The last time NASA astronauts walked on the Moon was during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Apollo 17 was a 12-day mission that broke many records, including the longest spacewalk, the longest lunar landing, and the largest lunar samples brought back to Earth.

Earth view from the Apollo 17 mission.

After Apollo 17, future Apollo missions were canceled

.But now NASA is going back to the moon and a Grand Rapids native will be onboard.

Grand Rapids Native To Be Part of NASA's First Trip To The Moon In 50 Years

Christina Koch is one of four members that will be part of the Artemis II mission that is scheduled to happen in 2024.

Christina is not new to outer space, in fact, she holds the world record for the longest spaceflight by a woman.

Will The Artemis II Land On The Moon?

NASA plans to land on the moon but not for this mission.

The Artemis II crew will not land or even go into lunar orbit, but rather fly around the moon and head straight back to Earth.

The Artemis III mission is scheduled to do a lunar landing two years after this mission.

Meet the astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II

On Monday NASA shared this cool video introducing the Artemis II crew.

I think it's so cool that someone from Michigan will be part of this mission.