Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover Shares Insights on Orion Mission Experience
Artemis II pilot talks about what it was really like to fly and land in Orion
Ars Technica
Image: Ars Technica
Victor Glover, pilot of NASA's Artemis II mission, discussed his experiences flying the Orion spacecraft during a recent media event. He highlighted the differences between the Orion's hands-on controls and the touchscreen interface of the Crew Dragon, emphasizing the responsive handling of Orion compared to simulations.
- 01Victor Glover piloted the Artemis II mission, which orbited the Moon.
- 02He previously flew the Crew Dragon to the International Space Station.
- 03Glover preferred Orion's traditional controls over touchscreen interfaces.
- 04The real handling of Orion exceeded simulation expectations.
- 05The mission aims to establish a semi-permanent base on the Moon.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Victor Glover, the pilot of NASA's Artemis II mission, spoke to the media about his recent journey around the Moon and the experience of piloting the Orion spacecraft. Glover, an experienced naval aviator, previously flew on the Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station in November 2020. During the Artemis II mission, he was responsible for much of the test piloting of Orion, which is part of NASA's goal to return humans to the Moon and create a semi-permanent base there. In interviews, Glover expressed his preference for Orion's traditional translational hand controller over the touchscreen controls of the Crew Dragon. He noted that the real handling of the spacecraft was more responsive and realistic than the simulations, describing it as a 'rumble like driving a pickup on a dirt road.' Glover praised the integrated system of Orion, stating that it flew significantly better than expected from the simulations, highlighting the team's accomplishments in preparing the spacecraft for the mission.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What aspect of space exploration excites you the most?
Connecting to poll...
More about NASA

PBS Documentary on NASA's Artemis II Moon Mission Now Available on YouTube
Engadget • Apr 18, 2026

NASA Study Reveals Earth's Future: Life Could End in a Billion Years Due to Sun's Changes
News 18 • Apr 17, 2026

NASA's Artemis II Sparks New Lunar Lander Developments; Moonshot Space Plans Innovative Launch System
Ars Technica • Apr 17, 2026
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.
