A First in Lunar Cartography
When NASA Artemis II astronauts return to the Moon, one crater will carry a name only one person chose: his late wife’s. Commander Reid Wiseman submitted the proposal to the IAU, the global body that officially names lunar features, and they approved it. The result is a small but permanent scar on the lunar surface named after Catherine Wiseman, who passed away in 2023. The crater now officially designated “Catherine” is roughly 18 kilometers across, positioned near the lunar south pole — the same region where NASA’s upcoming crewed landings are planned.
This marks the first time an active NASA astronaut has named a lunar feature after a private individual, specifically a family member. It’s also a quiet but meaningful shift in how the space agency handles legacy — from purely institutional to deeply personal.
The Artemis II Mission: Back to the Moon After 50 Years
The Artemis II mission represents NASA’s first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972. Unlike Artemis I, which flew an uncrewed Orion capsule around the Moon, Artemis II will carry four astronauts — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — on a free-return trajectory around the Moon. The mission is a critical proving ground before the Artemis III lander mission puts humans back on the lunar surface.
Wiseman, a retired U.S. Navy pilot and former International Space Station commander, has logged more than 198 days in space across two missions. He applied to name the crater through the IAU’s working group for planetary nomenclature, which governs all official names on planetary bodies. The process is rigorous and typically favors scientists, explorers, and cultural figures — not private individuals. So how did Catherine get approved?
Why the IAU Said Yes — And Why It Matters
The International Astronomical Union has strict conventions for naming lunar craters. Smaller craters under 10 kilometers typically honor scientists, artists, writers, and others who have contributed to culture and science. Larger craters can carry more varied names. Mission-specific features sometimes carry names tied to the program itself. What made Catherine different was that Wiseman’s proposal included a detailed scientific and historical justification that invoked Artemis program naming traditions.
The Artemis program has its own internal naming conventions that allow for commemorative elements. SLS rocket components reference mythological figures. The Gateway space station’s crew modules are named after historic astronauts. Catherine’s naming fits within that tradition — an exception carved out specifically for Artemis, and specifically for Wiseman’s mission.
Not everyone is convinced. Some planetary scientists and space historians argue that allowing personal tributes sets a precedent that could eventually clutter lunar nomenclature with privately motivated names. If one astronaut can name a crater after a spouse, can another name a mountain after a parent? The IAU will need to draw clearer lines going forward.
What This Means for the Future of Lunar Legacy
The Moon is about to get a lot more crowded. NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a sustained human presence by the end of the decade. China and Russia have announced plans for their own crewed lunar missions. Private companies are filing claims for resource extraction zones. As more missions touch down, more features will need names.
Whether Catherine’s crater becomes a template or remains an outlier will shape how the space community handles legacy in the Artemis era. The precedent matters: it opens the possibility that future astronauts, colonists, and even tourists could name features after the people and causes that matter to them. The Moon is no longer just a destination — it’s becoming a canvas for personal and collective memory.
The Personal Weight of a Public Achievement
Wiseman has been characteristically private about his grief. Catherine Wiseman, an occupational therapist, passed away in 2023 after a brief illness. Friends described her as the kind of person who grounded the family and kept the humor alive during difficult missions. Naming a crater doesn’t bring her back — but it does something that no mission patch or ribbon-cutting ceremony can. It leaves a mark that no orbital decay, no program cancellation, and no political funding fight can erase.
Artemis II is scheduled to launch in late 2026. When Wiseman circles the Moon and looks down at the south polar region, Catherine will be there — not just as memory, but as geography.
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