How a SoCal native became one of NASA's most valuable assets

Victor Glover, raised in Southern California and the only pilot to have flown NASA’s Orion capsule, is preparing to train the next generation of Artemis moon astronauts after Artemis II. He says Artemis will demand changes to existing approaches because International Space Station training is well established, while moon missions require a new, complex instructional regimen. NASA plans to ramp Artemis launches from once every 3.5 years to every six months, increasing the need for a solid training program. With only four Artemis astronauts and only one Artemis pilot, Glover emphasizes that astronauts should take more ownership of training and be involved to share experience. His background includes test piloting at China Lake and advanced education at multiple military institutions.

"“I think Artemis is going to demand us to change the paradigm,” he told The Times. The International Space Station, which has been continuously inhabited by a revolving crew of astronauts in low Earth orbit for over 25 years, has a “very well-worn” training program, he said. But developing a new instructional regimen for complex high-stakes moon missions as the agency tries to aggressively ramp up Artemis launches from once every 3 1/2 years to every six months is a different beast."

"“Until we get really ramped up and have a solid training program, I think astronauts need to take more ownership of the training and be involved so we can share this experience,” Glover said. As of today, the list of Artemis astronauts is only four people long. And the list of Artemis pilots has only one name: Victor Glover."

"Glover, 50, was born in Pomona, graduated from Ontario High School and lived “all over” Southern California's urban sprawl, including Baldwin Village (which he instinctively referred to by its pre-1988 name, “The Jungle”). He completed his undergraduate studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and received graduate degrees (plural) from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base."

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