NASA astronaut Andre Douglas and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jenni Gibbons discuss their roles as the Artemis II backup crew, including their training and mission support. The pair reflects on the historic flight around the Moon. HWHAP 421
The critical role of the backup crew
Backup crew members serve as essential support, including acting as astronaut support persons for launch, Capcom, and family support.
They participate in high-fidelity simulations to test procedures and hardware before the prime crew, essentially acting as 'guinea pigs' to refine mission protocols.
Translating ISS skills to Artemis
Core competencies learned during astronaut candidate training, such as robotics, communication, and situational awareness, are highly transferable to the Artemis architecture.
The ability to switch focus rapidly between complex technical tasks is a hallmark of modern astronaut training.
The 'Plank Owner' mentality
As the first crew to support the Artemis program, the backup team helped define the standard operating procedures for future missions.
They view their role as 'plank owners' of the program, establishing the foundation for subsequent Artemis missions.
The emotional and technical intensity of launch
Launch day involves a complex mix of technical responsibility and deep personal emotion, as the crew supports their friends while managing critical ground systems.
The experience of witnessing a launch after years of development is described as a profound, once-in-a-lifetime emotional event.
It was this combination of working so hard to get to where I wanted to go from an early age. And then at the same time, trying to bring along the people that I loved.
That candidacy program, no matter what you're working on, it teaches you how to learn the systems of a spacecraft, no matter what spacecraft you're working on.
There is fear there, but there's also like the joy of seeing your loved ones do what they were born to do and made to do and live their dream.