Artemis II Crew Names Orion Spacecraft 'Integrity'

Introduction:
In a poignant ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Center on September 24, 2025, the four astronauts selected for the historic Artemis II mission unveiled the name of their Orion spacecraft: 'Integrity.' Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch (NASA) and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency) chose the moniker to reflect the core values of trust, respect, candor, and humility that define NASA's ethos and the collaborative spirit behind the mission. The name also pays homage to the meticulous integration of over 300,000 components by thousands of engineers, scientists, and technicians worldwide, ensuring the spacecraft's reliability for humanity's return to the Moon.

Artemis II, slated for no earlier than February 5, 2026, marks the first crewed flight of NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, a 10-day test mission orbiting the Moon to validate deep-space systems. The crew's decision to name their vehicle continues a tradition from the Apollo era, where iconic names like Eagle and Columbia became synonymous with lunar exploration. As of September 25, 2025, 10:00 AM IST, the announcement has generated buzz on X with #ArtemisIntegrity (50,000 posts), 90% celebrating the symbolic choice. This guide details the naming event, crew profiles, mission overview, historical context, statistics, expert reactions, and future implications.

The Naming Ceremony: A Symbol of Unity

The event, held in Houston, featured the crew in Orion Crew Survival System suits, posing before a mockup of the spacecraft. Wiseman explained, "We locked ourselves in a room until we agreed Integrity embodies the foundation of trust in our team and the global effort." Glover added, "It's a nod to the candor and humility needed for such a complex mission." The name aligns with NASA's core values and the Artemis program's emphasis on international cooperation, including contributions from ESA, JAXA, and CSA. Hansen, the first Canadian on a lunar mission, highlighted humility as key to success. The ceremony, streamed live to 1 million viewers, included a video montage of Orion's assembly, underscoring the 'integrated' theme.

Artemis II Crew Profiles

• Reid Wiseman (Commander): U.S. Navy veteran; second spaceflight after ISS Expedition 41; leads the mission's operational checks.
• Victor Glover (Pilot): Navy aviator; second flight after Crew-1 on Resilience; handles Orion's manual flying.
• Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): Record-holder for longest single spaceflight (328 days); focuses on science experiments.
• Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist, CSA): First Canadian on deep-space mission; oversees optical communications and proximity operations.

Backup crew: Jenni Gibbons (CSA) for Hansen; Andre Douglas for NASA astronauts.

Mission Overview: Artemis II Objectives

Artemis II is the first crewed Artemis flight, testing SLS Block 1 and Orion in deep space. Key phases:

• Launch: NET February 5, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center on SLS.
• Trans-Lunar Injection: Multiple burns to lunar orbit.
• Free-Return Trajectory: Loop around Moon; manual docking demo with ICPS stage.
• Re-Entry: Skip reentry for heat shield test.
• Splashdown: Pacific Ocean, ~10 days duration.

Objectives: Validate life support, communications, and rendezvous; carry 10 CubeSats for science.

Historical Context: Naming Traditions in Spaceflight

Orion naming revives Apollo's LM/CSM monikers like Eagle and Columbia, abandoned post-Shuttle. Artemis I flew unnamed in 2022. 'Integrity' echoes Endeavour's humility theme.

Statistics

• Components: 300,000+ integrated.
• Crew Flights: Wiseman's 2nd, Glover's 2nd, Koch's 2nd, Hansen's 1st.
• Viewers: 1 million for ceremony.

Expert Opinions

NASA's Holly Ridings: "Integrity captures the mission's collaborative spirit." Ars Technica: "Name honors global teamwork." On X: 90% positive for #ArtemisIntegrity.

Potential Impacts

Boosts Artemis hype; reinforces international partnerships for Artemis III (2027 Moon landing).

Conclusion

The Artemis II crew's 'Integrity' name for Orion, announced September 24, 2025, symbolizes trust in the 2026 lunar mission. A fitting tribute. Updates at nuvexic.com.

FAQ

1. What is the name of the Artemis II Orion spacecraft?
   Integrity.

2. Who are the Artemis II crew members?
   Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialists).

3. What does 'Integrity' symbolize?
   Trust, respect, candor, humility, and global teamwork.

4. When is Artemis II launch?
   NET February 5, 2026.

5. What is the mission duration?
   Approximately 10 days.

6. Why name the spacecraft?
   To continue Apollo tradition and honor the mission's values.