Artemis II names moon crater Carroll after Reid Wiseman's late wife : NPR

Key Points:

• The Artemis II crew set a new human record for the farthest distance from Earth and became the first to see parts of the moon's far side, proposing names for two unnamed craters: "Integrity" after their spacecraft and "Carroll" in honor of commander Reid Wiseman's late wife.
• The astronauts' heartfelt proposal to name a crater "Carroll" was emotionally supported by the crew and acknowledged by mission control, though official naming requires approval from the International Astronomical Union after the mission.
• Reid Wiseman, a 27-year Navy veteran and astronaut, honors his late wife Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020, by carrying her legacy on the Artemis II mission; he also values his role as a single parent to their daughters as his greatest challenge and reward.
• Lunar features are typically named after deceased scientists, explorers, or engineers, with astronauts able to propose names informally during missions; however, all names must be officially approved by the International Astronomical Union, which enforces strict naming conventions.
• The International Astronomical Union is the only authority that can officially name celestial features, requiring names to avoid political, military, or religious associations and generally honoring individuals only if they have been deceased for at least three years.