NASA launched its first crewed mission around the moon in over half a century on Wednesday. NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman took his daughters aside for an honest talk about the dangers he faces before blasting off.
The NASA astronaut was at the helm when Artemis II blasted off for a 10-day flight around the lunar surface. Before leaving for Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, Wiseman, 50, went on a walk with his daughters Ellie and Katherine to tell them what could happen if he doesn’t come back from his mission, according to a Daily Mail report.
We’re going around the Moon. Come watch with us. Artemis II’s four-astronaut crew is lifting off from @NASAKennedy on an approximately 10-day mission that will bring us closer to living on the Moon and Mars. The launch window opens at 6:24pm ET (2224 UTC). https://t.co/X27QJejNDt
— NASA (@NASA) April 1, 2026
“I told them, ‘Here’s where the will is, here’s where the trust documents are, and if anything happens to me, here’s what’s going to happen to you,’” the NASA astronaut said. “I actually wish more people in everyday life talked to their families in that way because you never know what the next day is going to bring.”
Wiseman’s wife, Carroll Taylor Wiseman, was a neonatal intensive care nurse who died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 46. The NASA astronaut is now parenting two teenage daughters. He said they are aware of how dangerous the mission could be, but also understand his desire to explore and push humanity toward the unknown.
Artemis II would send astronauts around the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions of the 1960s and early ’70s. NASA officials said Tuesday the mission could even break the record set by Apollo 13 for distance traveled from Earth.
“Dad, we can’t leave the rocket without a .5 together!!” I love these two ladies, and I’m boarding that rocket a very proud father. pic.twitter.com/N6NKNaeUXF
— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) March 31, 2026
NASA says the astronauts climbed aboard the Orion capsule to ride into orbit atop the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Wednesday’s mission was the first crewed flight for the 32-story SLS. The rocket previously flew on an uncrewed test flight four years ago. Officials say SLS is in good shape after undergoing repairs.
“This is something that, I think, the nation and the world have been waiting a long time to do again,” the NASA astronaut said Friday after arriving at Kennedy Space Center with the rest of the crew. “On behalf of myself, Victor, Christina and Jeremy, we are really pumped to do this.”
Wiseman’s daughters traveled to Florida to watch their father take part in the historic return to lunar flight. While he has kept details about Ellie and Katherine mostly private—only noting that one is in high school and the other in college—he has spoken candidly about their feelings.
He shared that both initially had “zero interest” in seeing him go back to space. “We talked about it, and I said, ‘Look, of all the people on planet Earth right now, there are four people that are in a position to go fly around the moon,’” Wiseman explained. “I cannot say no to that opportunity.” By the next day, however, their perspective shifted. He woke up to homemade moon-themed cupcakes and their support, according to 10 News.
Reid Wiseman shared how difficult is it to leave his daughters behind, noting the intense emotional toll takes on them. “The toughest part is the stress that I’m putting on them,” the NASA astronaut added.
He acknowledged that his mission comes with personal sacrifice. “There’s a very real reason that we still live in Houston,” he told Baltimore Magazine, recalling how his late wife encouraged him to continue pursuing his career even during her illness. “When my wife started getting sick, I wanted to move towards family. But she said, ‘No, this is where you work, and you love your job. And we should not give that up for this.’”
The NASA astronaut added that he wants his daughters to see resilience firsthand. “Also, I want my kids to know that you can still achieve and go on and pick yourself up. I think when I said, ‘This is something that I want to go do, it’s important to me, and I think I can do a good job at this,’ they were aligned very quickly.”
As a personal touch, Reid Wiseman plans to carry letters from his daughters with him on the journey around the moon.
