Cal Poly's Victor Glover Pilots Artemis II, First Manned Moon Orbit Since 1972
Key Takeaways
- Cal Poly alumnus Victor Glover will pilot NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission.
- Artemis II launches April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center.
- Artemis II will orbit the Moon for ten days with four astronauts.
Historic Artemis II Launch
NASA's Artemis II launched at 3:24 p.m. PDT on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center.
“2026 Menu Show Search KCLU Marketplace KCLU Marketplace Next Up: 3:30 PM All Things Considered 0:00 0:00 Marketplace KCLU 0:00 0:00 Available On Air Stations * On Air Now Playing KCLU Stream All Streams California Coast News Central Coast college graduate set to pilot lunar mission KCLU | By Lance Orozco Published March 31, 2026 at 4:41 PM PDT Robert Markowitz / NASA Astronaut Victor Glover attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo”
Cal Poly graduate Victor Glover served as pilot, making him the first person of color beyond low Earth orbit.
The 10-day mission will perform a flyby of the moon's south polar region.
The mission is a critical test of SLS and Orion ahead of future landings.
Glover's Remarkable Journey
Glover earned his B.S. in general engineering from Cal Poly in 1999.
He obtained three graduate degrees in related fields.
His career includes service as a naval aviator and nearly 150 days on the ISS.
The mission represents a convergence of his expertise, experience, and leadership.
Community and Cultural Impact
Glover is the first person of color to travel beyond low Earth orbit.
“SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif”
Cal Poly President Armstrong noted the symbolic impact on students.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen joins the American crew.
Media coverage spanned NASA's YouTube channel, NASA+, Amazon Prime, and local outlets.
Technical Challenges and Future Steps
Artemis II follows a February 2026 anomaly that was resolved through testing.
The mission will inform technologies for subsequent Artemis flights.
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NASA plans to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by the end of the decade.
The Council on Foreign Relations had warned the campaign was a high-risk gamble.
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