Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover are no longer active astronauts with NASA, the space agency announced Wednesday. The two astronauts, who completed a lunar flyby mission earlier this year, will continue to support the Artemis program in emeritus roles.

Glover has accepted a leadership position at his alma mater, California Polytechnic State University, where his role focuses on shaping long-term strategies and inspiring students in science and engineering. His position took effect September 1.

Wiseman's status change is effective this month. After being selected as an astronaut in 2009, Wiseman, a retired Navy captain, previously served over five months aboard the International Space Station in 2014 and later held the position of NASA's chief astronaut. His future plans were not disclosed.

As emeritus astronauts, Wiseman and Glover will contribute their expertise by training and mentoring NASA personnel and offering insights for future lunar missions. NASA stated this new approach aims to leverage the extensive experience of its former active astronauts.

"Together, they took on one of the most challenging missions in human spaceflight and helped return America to the lunar environment," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement. "I’m grateful they will continue sharing what they learned."

Wiseman and Glover flew around the moon in April with two other astronauts, setting a new distance record for humanity. This mission marked a significant step in NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.

Following the Artemis II mission, another crew member, Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency, retired in July. Christina Koch remains the sole active astronaut from the Artemis II crew.

Glover, a 1999 Cal Poly graduate, served as a Navy test pilot before his selection as an astronaut in 2013. He previously piloted a SpaceX mission to the International Space Station from 2020 to 2021.

During the Artemis II mission, Glover reflected on humanity's place in the universe, observing Earth as a singular oasis. Wiseman also shared a personal moment, requesting permission to name a lunar crater after his late wife, Carroll, who died in 2020.

Last month, President Donald Trump awarded the Artemis II crew the Congressional Space Medal of Honor at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.