Meet The Pilot: Victor Glover’s Role In Artemis Ii

Okay, let's talk about Victor Glover. You know, the guy. The one with the super cool job. He's going to space! And not just for a quick peek, but on the big Artemis II mission. This is the mission that’s going to send humans back around the Moon. Like, for real. And Victor? He’s a major player.

Now, I have a little confession to make. It's a bit of an unpopular opinion, but I’m going to say it anyway. Sometimes, when we talk about astronauts, we get so caught up in the "hero" narrative. And yes, they are absolutely heroes. But sometimes, we forget about the nitty-gritty. The real work. And that’s where our buddy Victor really shines.

Victor Glover isn't just going to be in space. He's going to be flying it. And that's kind of a big deal.

Think about it. We've got this amazing spacecraft, the Orion. It's a marvel of engineering. It's going to take these four brave souls on an epic journey. And who's in charge of making sure that marvel of engineering goes exactly where it's supposed to go? Yep, that’s Victor. He's the Pilot.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. "Pilot? Isn't that just like, flying a plane?" Well, yes and no. Imagine flying a plane, but instead of clouds and turbulence, you're dealing with the vast emptiness of space. Instead of runways, you've got orbits. And instead of air traffic control, you’ve got Mission Control, probably with a lot more coffee involved.

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Victor Glover has got a ton of experience. He's a seasoned Naval aviator. He’s flown in combat. This isn't his first rodeo in a cockpit. He's been to the International Space Station before, on the Crew-1 mission. So he's already got that whole "living and working in space" thing down. But this? This is different.

On Artemis II, Victor's job is to be the pilot of the Orion spacecraft. That means he's responsible for maneuvering the capsule. He'll be the one making the critical decisions about trajectory. He'll be the one guiding them around the Moon. It's like being the captain of a super fancy, super expensive, super fast car. Except this car is also a spaceship, and it’s going to the Moon.

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And honestly, I think that’s where the "unpopular opinion" comes in. We hear about the astronauts who are scientists, the ones doing the experiments. And that’s super important! We need them to discover new things. We need them to understand our universe better. But then there’s the pilot. The one who has to actually get everyone there and back safely.

It's like going on a road trip with your best friends. One friend is the designated driver. They're the one making sure you don't run into a ditch or take a wrong turn. They're the one who has to stay focused, even when everyone else is singing along to bad karaoke. Victor Glover is that designated driver, but for the Moon!

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He’s got to be calm under pressure. He’s got to have incredible hand-eye coordination. He’s got to have an intimate understanding of how this incredibly complex machine works. It’s not just about pushing buttons; it’s about anticipating every single thing that could go wrong and knowing how to fix it.

And let's not forget, he's doing this with Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Rouse. A whole crew of super-talented individuals. But Victor's role as the pilot is so crucial. He’s the one steering the ship, literally.

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I think we should give a little extra cheer for the pilots. They’re the ones with the ultimate responsibility for the safe passage of their crew. They're the ones who have to make the tough calls when things get dicey. And Victor Glover, with his impressive background and calm demeanor, is the perfect man for this job.

So, next time you hear about Artemis II, remember Victor. The pilot. The guy who’s going to be making sure that incredible journey around the Moon is a smooth one. He’s not just an astronaut; he’s the cosmic chauffeur. And I, for one, am incredibly grateful for his skills. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go practice my "waving from space" pose. Just in case. You never know when you might need a good pilot.