NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, the father of two teenagers and the commander of the 2026 Artemis II lunar flyby, experienced a devastating loss in 2020 when his wife Carroll Wiseman died of cancer after a five‑year battle. Since then, he has raised their daughters Ellie and Katherine alone — a role he has called “the biggest challenge” of his life. This article draws on official NASA biographies, independent encyclopedia entries, and national news reporting to provide a verified account of Wiseman’s family journey and how it shaped his command of the first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years.
Last checked: 2026-06-28
Full name: Gregory Reid Wiseman · Occupation: NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy captain, test pilot · Birth date: November 11, 1975 · Notable mission: Commander of Artemis II (2026)
How we researched this
Last checked 2026-06-28.
Sources reviewed: Official NASA biography pages, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Wikipedia, The Today Show (NBC News Digital), ABC News / Good Morning America, Baltimore Magazine, Yahoo News, and linked social media profiles (Instagram, LinkedIn).
What we did not do: We conducted no direct interview with Reid Wiseman, no on‑site visit to NASA facilities, and no primary access to personal medical or legal records.
Key verifiable facts about Reid Wiseman’s family life and mission
- Carroll Taylor Wiseman died of cancer on May 17, 2020, at age 46, in Friendswood, Texas, following a five‑year battle (Yahoo News).
- Wiseman has raised daughters Ellie and Katherine alone since 2020; NASA’s official biography calls his time as an “only parent” both his greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase of his life (NASA).
- On April 3, 2023, NASA named Wiseman commander of Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17. The mission flew April 1–10, 2026, and set a human distance record of 406,771 km from Earth (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- During Artemis II, mission specialist Jeremy Hansen proposed naming a lunar crater “Carroll” after Wiseman’s late wife, honoring her and their daughters Ellie and Katey (ABC News / GMA).
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Gregory Reid Wiseman |
| Occupation | NASA astronaut, U.S. Navy captain, test pilot |
| Birth date | November 11, 1975 |
| Notable mission | Commander of Artemis II (2026) |
| Specification | Verified value |
|---|---|
| Age (as of 2025) | 49 years old (born November 11, 1975) |
| Parenting role | Single father to two teenage daughters |
| NASA career | 16+ years since selection in 2009 |
| Notable command | Artemis II lunar mission commander in 2026 |
| Marriage | Married Carroll Taylor Wiseman in 2003; 17 years together |
| Chief of Astronaut Office | December 18, 2020 – November 14, 2022 |
What happened to astronaut Reid Wiseman’s wife?
Carroll Taylor Wiseman died on May 17, 2020, at the age of 46, in Friendswood, Texas, after a five‑year battle with cancer. The specific type of cancer has not been publicly disclosed by the family, as confirmed by multiple national outlets (Today Show). Her obituary, originally published in The Virginian‑Pilot and referenced by Yahoo News, stated she was a registered nurse in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and a pediatric nurse practitioner who dedicated her career to caring for infants and children.
Reid and Carroll Wiseman married in 2003 and were married for 17 years. Her death occurred just over a year after Reid Wiseman had become Chief of the Astronaut Office, a position he took in December 2020. Friends and colleagues described Carroll as a quiet hero whose nursing work was deeply respected in the local community around Friendswood, Texas, and in her hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia (ABC News).
The bottom line. Carroll Wiseman’s cause of death is cancer after a five‑year fight; her specific diagnosis remains private. Her professional identity as a NICU nurse is well documented, and her death left Reid Wiseman as sole parent to their two daughters.
Carroll Wiseman’s cause of death
All credible sources that address the question state that the family has chosen not to release the precise cancer subtype. The Today article explicitly notes: “What type of cancer Carroll had is not publicly known.” The same report quotes Reid Wiseman describing his wife’s battle generally without naming the disease. This restraint is consistent with the family’s handling of the loss.
Timeline of her passing
Carroll Wiseman’s diagnosis came in 2015. She died on May 17, 2020. She was 46 years old. Her death took place in Friendswood, Texas, where the family had made their home near the Johnson Space Center.
How Reid Wiseman has spoken about the loss
In a NASA‑published video, Wiseman stated: “By far, the biggest challenge was losing my wife in 2020 to cancer and now raising two daughters… It is not easy being an only parent, trying to work a full‑time job and raising two kids.” (NASA / YouTube).
Is Reid Wiseman a single dad?
Yes. Since Carroll Wiseman’s death in May 2020, Reid Wiseman has been the sole parent to his two daughters, Ellie and Katherine. In his official NASA biography, the agency explicitly says he considers his time as an “only parent” to be “his greatest challenge and the most rewarding phase of his life.”
Public statements from Wiseman reinforce this. He told interviewers, “My girls are my whole life” (Today). Former Chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 through November 2022, Wiseman balanced the added duties of leading NASA’s astronaut corps while raising teenagers alone. The shift required adjusting his work schedule and, at times, stepping back from flight assignments to prioritize his daughters (Baltimore Magazine).
Why this matters. Wiseman’s identity as a single father is not a footnote; it is a central part of the narrative NASA and the media use to humanize the Artemis II commander. It also frames the emotional stakes of the mission.
His role as single father
Wiseman has described his daily life as a single parent in concrete terms: he does the school drop‑offs, attends parent‑teacher conferences, and coordinates schedules alongside mission training. In the lead‑up to Artemis II, he told his daughters where his will and trust documents were and explained what would happen to them if he did not return (Amy Kaufeldt / FOX 35).
How he balances parenting and space missions
Before the Artemis II launch, Wiseman acknowledged that going to space was “a selfish ask” of his daughters, who had already suffered the loss of their mother. He arranged for extended family support during the mission and kept in daily contact with his girls via private channels while aboard Orion (Baltimore Magazine).
How old are Reid Wiseman’s daughters?
The exact ages of Ellie and Katherine Wiseman are not published in official sources; references uniformly describe them as “teenage daughters” or “young teenagers.” At the time of Carroll’s death in May 2020, they were likely in middle school or early high school. By the Artemis II launch in April 2026, media accounts referred to both as “older teens” (Today).
Given that Wiseman married in 2003, his daughters were likely born between 2005 and 2010, making them roughly 15–20 years old during the Artemis II mission. The ABC News report on the crater tribute mentions the daughters by name, Ellie and Katey (a variant of Katherine), and notes that Jeremy Hansen’s proposal was “for Reid’s girls.”
The trade‑off. The lack of precise public ages reflects the family’s effort to protect the daughters’ privacy. Even so, the consistent mention of “teenagers” across multiple sources provides a reliable general range.
Names and current ages
The daughters’ full names are Ellie Wiseman and Katherine (often called Katey or Katy) Wiseman. Media accounts refer to them without surnames. Their birth years are not officially recorded in publicly available NASA or biographical data.
Public mentions of his children
Wiseman often references his children in interviews. For example, he brought them to the Artemis II announcement in 2023, and photos of the event show two adolescent girls with him. On social media, he occasionally posts about family activities such as hiking and go‑karting, though he limits identifying details.
Is Reid Wiseman in a relationship?
No public evidence suggests that Reid Wiseman has remarried or entered a new relationship since Carroll Wiseman’s death. His NASA biography, media profiles, and personal statements all centre on his role as a single father and his professional duties. When asked directly about his personal life in interviews, Wiseman has consistently redirected attention to his daughters and the Artemis II mission. The absence of a new partner in any official narrative suggests that he has not remarried (NASA; Today).
Supporting this, the 2026 crater‑naming proposal from crewmate Jeremy Hansen was explicitly for Carroll Wiseman, and Hansen’s words during the Artemis II broadcast referred to Carroll as “the spouse of Reid, the mother of Katey and Ellie” — firmly in the past tense (ABC News).
The implication. For readers wondering about his romantic status, the honest answer is that no verified source indicates a current relationship. Wiseman’s public identity is that of a devoted single father and commander, and he has not introduced a partner in any credible forum.
Did he remarry?
There is no record of remarriage in any of the eight sources consulted, including NASA, Britannica, Wikipedia, national news outlets, and his own social media presence (Instagram and LinkedIn).
Current relationship status
Wiseman has not publicly identified a partner. His most recent interviews and official NASA biography update (last revised 2025) list only his children as family members. It is reasonable to conclude he is currently single.
Key events in Reid Wiseman’s life and career
- November 11, 1975 – Gregory Reid Wiseman born in Baltimore, Maryland (Wikipedia).
- 2003 – Marries Carroll Taylor (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
- 2009 – Selected as a NASA astronaut.
- 2015 – Carroll Wiseman diagnosed with cancer.
- May 17, 2020 – Carroll Wiseman dies at age 46 in Friendswood, Texas (Yahoo News).
- December 18, 2020 – Becomes 17th Chief of the Astronaut Office (All American Speakers).
- November 14, 2022 – Steps down as Chief to return to active flight status.
- April 3, 2023 – Named commander of Artemis II.
- April 1–10, 2026 – Commands Artemis II lunar flyby; sets distance record of 406,771 km from Earth (Britannica).
- April 6, 2026 – Lunar crater “Carroll” proposed by Jeremy Hansen (Wikipedia).
Our recommendation for following Reid Wiseman’s story
For the most up‑to‑date information on Reid Wiseman’s career and family life, we recommend following his official NASA biography, which is updated periodically, and his personal Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, where he posts directly. Major national outlets such as Today and ABC News provide verified reporting on his mission milestones and personal reflections. These sources are authoritative and free from speculation.
““By far, the biggest challenge was losing my wife in 2020 to cancer and now raising two daughters… It is not easy being an only parent, trying to work a full-time job and raising two kids.””
– Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander
““My girls are my whole life.””
– Reid Wiseman, NASA astronaut and father of two daughters
en.wikipedia.org, instagram.com, britannica.com, ourcancerstories.com, facebook.com, youtube.com
For a detailed account of his personal journey, you can explore how he navigated single parenthood while preparing to command the Artemis II mission.
Frequently asked questions about Reid Wiseman
What happened to astronaut Reid Wiseman’s wife?
Carroll Taylor Wiseman died of cancer on May 17, 2020, after a five‑year battle. She was 46 years old and lived in Friendswood, Texas. The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed by the family.
Is Reid Wiseman a single dad?
Yes. Since his wife’s death in 2020, he has raised his two daughters Ellie and Katherine as a single father. NASA’s official biography describes his role as an “only parent.”
What is Reid Wiseman’s date of birth?
Gregory Reid Wiseman was born on November 11, 1975, in Baltimore, Maryland.
What was Carroll Wiseman’s profession?
Carroll Wiseman was a registered nurse in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) and a pediatric nurse practitioner.
What is Reid Wiseman’s role in Artemis II?
He was the mission commander. Artemis II was a 10‑day lunar flyby from April 1–10, 2026, the first crewed moon mission since Apollo 17. The crew set a new human distance from Earth record of 406,771 km.
What lunar crater was proposed during Artemis II?
Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen proposed naming a lunar crater “Carroll” after Wiseman’s late wife.
Sources
- All American Speakers – Reid Wiseman biography
- NASA (YouTube) – Reid Wiseman talks about losing his wife and raising daughters
- Wikipedia – Reid Wiseman
- Facebook – Amy Kaufeldt / FOX 35 post summarizing Wiseman’s preparations
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