Here's who's on the Artemis II crew headed toward the moon

Artemis II launched Wednesday evening with a crew that includes the first woman, first Black man, and first Canadian to fly around the moon. The mission represents a major milestone for NASA's lunar exploration program, which aims to return humans to the moon's surface in subsequent missions. The crew composition reflects efforts to expand participation in space exploration beyond the traditional astronaut pool. The mission builds on decades of Apollo-era spaceflight but with significantly expanded diversity among crew members selected for deep-space missions. Former NASA astronaut Ron Garan provided analysis of the mission's significance and objectives.