posted 01-29-2026 10:48 AM               

TIME COVER: Back to the Moon

Artemis II is poised for the first lunar mission since 1972 — with much more to come

On Sale Friday, January 31

The new issue of TIME features exclusive interviews with the Artemis II astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — for a cover story by TIME's Jeffrey Kluger on the first lunar mission since 1972, as NASA prepares to reopen the path to the Moon with a historic, diverse, and international crew.

TIME's Jeffrey Kluger writes: "History recalls the names of Borman, Lovell, and Anders; of Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin; of Apollo 13's Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise. It may soon recall, as well, Artemis II's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen... Not only will Artemis II be the first mission to reach the moon in more than half a century, it will also represent a significant demographic and cultural shift. Koch will be the first woman to go to the moon, Glover the first person of color, and Hansen, a Canadian, the first non-American."

Kluger continues: "A return to the lunar neighborhood will not only represent a significant — if temporary — edge in any space race that does exist with China, but also offer a kind of public uplift that, since the 1960s, space flight has uniquely been able to provide. Not every mission, of course, touches the collective soul, but some do: John Glenn's three orbits of the Earth in 1962; Apollo 8's Christmas Eve lyricism; Apollo 11's lunar landing; Apollo 13's hair's-breadth rescue — all were less American experiences than global dramas, global triumphs, global joys... With Artemis II, the lunar ledger will at last be reopened and four more names inscribed — a fine and fit crew who will be sent into the cosmic deep as emissaries of the 8.3 billion of us who will remain forever earthbound. Apollo 8 saved 1968. Artemis II may work similar magic today."

Highlights From the Time Cover Story:

On whether he feels the weight of history on his shoulders ahead of the mission, Artemis II astronaut Reid Wiseman tells TIME: "Until about 30 seconds ago, I didn't... But seriously, I really don't think any of us have thought about that aspect of the mission. I really think we are taking the next right step in a sustained lunar presence. The important thing about being first is that there's a second, third, fourth, and more."

On the record-breaking mission that will allow the crew to capture images of the spheres of the Earth and moon in the same frame: "I very intentionally keep myself from thinking about what seeing the far side will be like... Because no matter what your expectation is, the reality will be different."

On his tenure with NASA, from a 165-day space station rotation to serving as head of the NASA astronaut office: "There was never a launch where I didn't think I was on the verge of a heart attack because you know the careers you've assigned to the mission... You're thinking about their success, their family, how they are doing. I spent a lot of time agonizing over every little thing."

On this being the first NASA mission to include a woman, a person of color, and a Canadian, Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover tells TIME: "More than a decade ago, NASA decided that equity and inclusion would be part of its core values... Those decisions have led to us having an astronaut office that looks very much like America. You could reach in and grab any four people and they would look like this crew."

When asked about the larger meaning of the 10-day mission: "Let's get to splashdown successfully... Then maybe we can revisit the question."

On the mission serving as a powerful symbol of what nations can achieve when they work together, Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen tells TIME: "We have a lot of global stresses and problems... And those global problems require global solutions. This [including a Canadian on Artemis II] is such an amazing example of what we can do together."

On the mission being a collective effort and not of one individual, Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch tells TIME: "The other day I was thinking about when we arrive at the moon... And the only way I can accept that my name is in that grouping is that we're part of a team—people who are doing the hard work."

On her love for exploration that began in childhood: "If anyone within a country mile said the word Antarctica, I was all over it, asking 'How can I get there? When can I go?'"

On the surprising international reaction following his mission on Apollo 11, astronaut Michael Collins tells TIME: "I thought that when we went someplace they'd say, 'Well, congratulations. You Americans finally did it... And instead of that, unanimously the reaction was, 'We did it. We humans finally left this planet and went past escape velocity.'"