Select grid icon above right for expanded view. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen were announced Monday, April 3 as the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artem

Select grid icon above right for expanded view.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen were announced Monday, April 3 as the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on Artemis II.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2023e016432_alt2)

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Def

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5 day mission to the Moon. Orion will be recovered by NASA’s Landing and Recovery team, U.S. Navy and Department of Defense partners aboard the USS Portland.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (KSC-20221211-PH-JNV01-0003

NASA astronauts piloting T-38 jets soar in formation above the Artemis I rocket on Launch Pad 39B as it awaits launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e066538_alt)

NASA astronauts piloting T-38 jets soar in formation above the Artemis I rocket on Launch Pad 39B as it awaits launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e066538_alt)

Navy pilot and NASA astronaut candidate Jack “Radio” Hathaway pilots a NASA T-38 jet during a mission to photograph Artemis I on the launchpad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. hoto: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e066548)

Navy pilot and NASA astronaut candidate Jack “Radio” Hathaway pilots a NASA T-38 jet during a mission to photograph Artemis I on the launchpad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

hoto: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e066548)

NASA Astronaut Bob “Farmer” Hines served as mission pilot for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e000177_alt)

NASA Astronaut Bob “Farmer” Hines served as mission pilot for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e000177_alt)

NASA Astronaut, U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, test pilot, and SpaceX Crew-5 Mission Commander Nicole Mann. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e042641_alt)

NASA Astronaut, U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, test pilot, and SpaceX Crew-5 Mission Commander Nicole Mann.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e042641_alt)

U.S. Navy Divers practice with NASA's Orion Spacecraft Crew Module Uprighting System at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. In the event of an upside down or turnover landing, the bags will inflate to turn Orion right side up. Photo: Josh NASA/Josh Valcarce

U.S. Navy Divers practice with NASA's Orion Spacecraft Crew Module Uprighting System at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab. In the event of an upside down or turnover landing, the bags will inflate to turn Orion right side up.

Photo: Josh NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e088124)

Ryan Gosling tours NASA’s Johnson Space Center as part of the filmmakers’ extensive research prior to the filming of First Man. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Ryan Gosling tours NASA’s Johnson Space Center as part of the filmmakers’ extensive research prior to the filming of First Man.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

NASA astronaut and Navy Submarine Warfare Officer Kayla Barron. Prior to NASA, Barron was a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2020e049793_alt)

NASA astronaut and Navy Submarine Warfare Officer Kayla Barron. Prior to NASA, Barron was a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2020e049793_alt)

Veteran NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore in his “Boeing Blue” spacesuit. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2020e053044_alt)

Veteran NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore in his “Boeing Blue” spacesuit.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2020e053044_alt)

astering the art of space robotics, NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara practices flying the Canadarm from the mock-up cupola in the Systems Engineering Simulator at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, providing a glimpse into the intense training and preparation

astering the art of space robotics, NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara practices flying the Canadarm from the mock-up cupola in the Systems Engineering Simulator at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, providing a glimpse into the intense training and preparation for missions aboard the International Space Station.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e078437_alt)

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen is suspended over a mock-up of the International Space Station during a microgravity simulation. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e118308)

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen is suspended over a mock-up of the International Space Station during a microgravity simulation.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e118308)

NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara brings a fresh perspective to portrait photography with a hair flip that seems to defy gravity at the NASA Johnson Space Center photo studio. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e041196_alt)

NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara brings a fresh perspective to portrait photography with a hair flip that seems to defy gravity at the NASA Johnson Space Center photo studio.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2022e041196_alt)

The real Silver Surfer: NASA astronaut, Navy SEAL, and veteran space walker Chris Cassidy. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2020e002560_alt2)

The real Silver Surfer: NASA astronaut, Navy SEAL, and veteran space walker Chris Cassidy.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2020e002560_alt2)

NASA Research Pilot Adam Klein, pictured here wearing a WB-57 high altitude pressure suit, has flown upwards of 63,000 feet, high enough to see the sky darken and the curvature of the Earth come into view. This suit protects aircrew while operating

NASA Research Pilot Adam Klein, pictured here wearing a WB-57 high altitude pressure suit, has flown upwards of 63,000 feet, high enough to see the sky darken and the curvature of the Earth come into view. This suit protects aircrew while operating in the harsh “space equivalent zone” where loss of cabin pressure would be fatal. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e083553_alt)

NASA Flight Engineer Mallory Yates flys in the rear cockpit of the WB-57 high altitude research aircraft, where she manages and operates its complex systems and equipment. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e083557_alt)

NASA Flight Engineer Mallory Yates flys in the rear cockpit of the WB-57 high altitude research aircraft, where she manages and operates its complex systems and equipment.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e083557_alt)

NASA Astronaut Nick Hague. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e038155_alt)

NASA Astronaut Nick Hague.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e038155_alt)

ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e026605_alt)

ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e026605_alt)

NASA Astronaut Drew Morgan. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e026768_alt)

NASA Astronaut Drew Morgan.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2018e026768_alt)

NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold reflects during routine crew training at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility. Photo: NASA/ Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e137315)

NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold reflects during routine crew training at the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility.

Photo: NASA/ Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e137315)

Our sun, a G2V type yellow dwarf star, shot at 1200mm using a full aperture solar filter. For comparison, the small sunspot at the lower end is roughly the same size as Earth. Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e089583)

Our sun, a G2V type yellow dwarf star, shot at 1200mm using a full aperture solar filter. For comparison, the small sunspot at the lower end is roughly the same size as Earth.

Photo: NASA/Josh Valcarcel (jsc2017e089583)

Feeling Like an Astronaut

Ever wondered what it’s like to fly backseat in a NASA T-38? NASA photographer Josh Valcarcel takes you behind-the-scenes to show his perspective riding with NASA astronauts to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to check out Artemis I on the launch pad.

First Flight in a NASA T-38

My first flight in the backseat of a NASA T-38 left me speechless, so here's a video.

Music: Astronaut, by Vincent Tone