Ernie Wright, Artemis II lunar science visualization lead -- jsc2026e020757

Ernie Wright, Artemis II lunar science visualization lead, reacts to hearing the astronauts describe features of the Moon as they few by on April 6, 2026. To prepare the crew for this mission, the Artemis II lunar science team trained the astronauts in geology, both in the classroom and in the field. They also built the lunar targeting plan that, which, like an International Space Station spacewalk plan, provides strong, detailed observation guidance, plus flexibility for the crew to make decisions based on what they’re seeing and experiencing in real time. The science team had many moments of celebration during the lunar flyby as the astronauts took images of the Moon and provided verbal descriptions of what they were seeing. This type of information reveals the geologic history of an area and will be critical to collect when future Artemis astronauts explore the Moon's surface. Credits: NASA/Luna Posadas Nava