Reid WisemanThe commander of the Artemis 2 mission was able to honor his late wife, Carol Weismanwhile in space. The crew aboard the Orion spacecraft – Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – The moon crater was named after Carol, and the moment was captured for the world to see.
“We would like to call her Carol,” mission specialist Jeremy said during their April 2026 mission. “Several years ago, as we began this journey, in the close-knit astronaut family, we lost someone dear. Her name was Carol. Wife of Red. Mother of Katie and Ellie. We would like to call her Carol.”
All four astronauts shared a hug while Reid wiped away his tears. This was a landmark moment, proving that science can be emotional in the best of ways.
Learn about Carol, her relationship with Reed, and what happened to her below.
Who was Carol Weisman?
It was Reed’s wife, Carol, who “dedicated her life to helping others as a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit,” NASA notes on its website.
How long were Reed Weisman and his wife Carol Weisman married?
Reid and Carole married in 2003 and remained together until her death in 2020.
What happened to Reed Wiseman’s wife, Carol? How did she die?
Carol passed away after a battle with cancer in 2020. She was 46 years old.
Does Reed Wiseman have children? About his daughters
Yes, Reid is a father of two children, daughters Katie and Ellie, whom he shares with Carol. The astronaut has raised Eli and Katie alone since his wife’s death. According to NASA, Reid considers his time as a single parent to be his greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase of his life.
Before embarking on NASA’s Artemis II launch in April 2026, Reed revealed that he prepared his daughters for his potential death if the mission failed.
“I told them: ‘Here’s the will, here’s the trust documents, and if anything happens to me, this is what happens to you,'” Reed explained. “I actually wish more people in everyday life talked to their families this way because you never know what the next day will bring.”
