Artemis II moonshot commander and pilot are hanging up their astronaut suits at NASA

NASA’s decision to move Artemis II commander Victor Glover and his pilot into the agency’s Emeritus Program removes two veteran astronauts from active flight status, shifting their expertise from exploration to mentorship. The Los Angeles Times reported Glover’s official step back from NASA and his move to California Polytechnic State University, while a NASA.gov notice confirmed the emeritus appointments for both crew members as part of a broader transition plan for the Artemis program.

Following the emeritus announcement, Glover accepted a full‑time leadership position at Cal Poly, a move highlighted by Yahoo and the university’s own release. The Cal Poly statement describes his return as a historic post‑mission appointment, positioning him to guide aerospace initiatives and mentor students.

The appointment is expected to strengthen Cal Poly’s research collaborations with NASA and industry partners. Monitoring future NASA crew assignments will reveal how the agency fills the gap left by the two seasoned explorers, and the transition also signals NASA’s shift toward upcoming Artemis III crew preparations.