Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman is raising his two kids as a single dad following the tragic death of his wife, Carroll.

"Carroll Taylor Wiseman, 46, passed away May 17 in Friendswood, Texas following a five year battle with cancer," her 2020 obituary in the Virginian Pilot says.

Reid Wiseman is one of the four crew members who have embarked on the Artemis II lunar mission. They are traveling farther than any human beings have ever journeyed away from Earth. "Reid Wiseman is a 27-year Navy veteran, a pilot, a father, an engineer, and a Baltimore native. He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2009 and served as Flight Engineer aboard the International Space Station for Expedition 41 from May through November of 2014," NASA explained.

Wiseman posted a selfie with his two daughters before the flight, writing, "I love these two ladies, and I’m boarding that rocket a very proud father."

Carroll Wiseman worked as a nurse, her 2020 obituary says.

"Carroll, a native of Virginia Beach, was the daughter of Waller and Anne Taylor. She was a graduate of First Colonial High School, James Madison University, and Virginia Commonwealth University," her obituary reads.

"Upon graduation as a pediatric nurse practitioner, Carroll worked at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) and as a school nurse in Patuxent River, MD and later in Friendswood, TX," reads the obit.

"Reid’s hometown is Baltimore, Maryland. His late wife, Carroll, dedicated her life to helping others as a newborn intensive care unit Registered Nurse," NASA wrote.

In addition to her parents, Carroll "is survived by her husband, CAPT G. Reid Wiseman, USN, her two daughters, Ellie and Katherine, her sisters Catherine Taylor and Susan Taylor (Jonathan), her brother Robert Taylor (Jennifer), all of Virginia Beach, and seven nieces and nephews," her obit reads.

NASA's bio for Wiseman also discusses this reality. Carroll "is survived by their two children. Despite a long list of professional accolades, Reid considers his time as an only parent as his greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase of his life. When faced with a challenge in his personal or professional life, Reid often seeks guidance from books by experts in the subject, and maintains a growth mindset towards learning and collaborative solutions," the space agency wrote.

Wiseman posted on Instagram that one of his daughters snuck cookies into his luggage. "When you are packing for the Moon and discover your daughter snuck some cookies she made into your luggage. My heart can’t take it! ❤️❤️❤️" he wrote.

According to the Baltimore Banner, while Carroll was sick, Reid "stepped back from active flight duty to serve in the astronaut office, first as a deputy, then as chief. But he returned to the flight rotation in November 2022, and soon after, NASA invited him on a bold new mission: a crewed voyage to the moon."

He has prepared his daughters for the risks of space travel.

“I went on a walk with my kids, and I told them, ‘Here’s where the will is, here’s where the trust documents are, and if anything happens to me, here’s what’s going to happen to you,’” Reid Wiseman said at a NASA news conference, according to the Banner. “That’s just a part of this life.”

(Photo by Paul Hennessy/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Wiseman's 83-year-old dad also has cancer.

“I wanted to stay alive to see it,” Bill Wiseman said of the Artemis launch. He spoke in an interview with the Baltimore Banner.

According to the newspaper, the family has suffered a series of tragedies that has him thinking about his own mortality. "His mother died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. His wife died of cancer. Now his father's health is faltering," the Banner reported.

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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.