NCAA Final Four Championship Features Astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Artemis II Crew, NASA Officials, and ERGs

by Sumer Loggins | 2023-04-17

On April 3, 2023, over 74,000 fans gathered, and 11.2 million watched from home the NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship Game between University of Connecticut and San Diego State at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

The Men’s Final Four Championship Game was represented by NASA officials from multiple centers, the Artemis II crew, and 10 chairmen of Employee Resource Groups from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos — The NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship Game were represented by NASA officials from multiple centers, ten chairpersons of Employee Resource Groups from NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and *the Artemis II crew. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos*

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American chemist and NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson performed the national anthem to tipoff the game. NASA officials participated in the flag ceremony, including Bob Cabana, associative administrator; Johnny Stephenson, deputy administrator for the Office of Communications; Vanessa Wyche, NASA’s Johnson Space Center director; Stephen Koerner, Johnson deputy director; Janet Petro, Kennedy Space Center director; Clayton Turner, Langley Research Center director; and Jody Singer, Marshall Space Flight Center director. All 10 Johnson Employee Resource Group chairpersons joined in on the ceremony. Anna Kapiniari, Canadian Space Agency's (CSAs) director general of Space Exploration, also attended the game to cheer on the astronauts and teams.

*NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson performed the national anthem at the NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship Game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos*

From left to right: Allison Rich, recording secretary of Women Excelling in Life and Leadership Employee Resource Group (ERG), Thomas Kromis, chair-elect of the Connected Veterans ERG, Darrell Palmer, chair of Greening and Restoring Our World ERG, Chrystal Wiseman, chair of African American ERG, Natalie Cluck, chair of Emerge, Chastity Williams, chair of Out and Allied ERG, Antonio Farinetti chair-elect of JSC Parenting ERG, Sarah Smallwood, chair-elect of Asians Succeeding in Innovation and Aerospace ERG, Liz Chavez, chair of No Boundaries ERG, and Manuel Retana, chair of Hispanic ERG. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos — From left to right are Allison Rich, recording secretary of Women Excelling in Life and Leadership Employee Resource Group (ERG); Thomas Kromis, chair-elect of the Connected Veterans ERG; Darrell Palmer, chair of Greening and Restoring Our World ERG; Chrystal Wiseman, chair of African American ERG; Natalie Cluck, chair of Emerge ERG; Chastity Williams, chair of Out and Allied ERG; Antonio Farinetti chair-elect of JSC Parenting ERG; Sarah Smallwood, chair-elect of Asians Succeeding in Innovation and Aerospace ERG; Liz Chavez, chair of No Boundaries ERG; and Manuel Retana, chair of Hispanic ERG.
Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos

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Meet the Artemis II Crew

The Artemis II crew were featured as special guests in the opening ceremonies. Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen are the four astronauts who will venture around the Moon on NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration at the Moon. The Artemis II crew teaser played on a rotating screen throughout the venue to represent the new era of space exploration.

Reid Wiseman, Commander

Wiseman has logged over 165 days in space, including almost 13 hours as lead spacewalker during two trips outside the orbital complex. Prior to his assignment, Wiseman served as chief of the Astronaut Office from December 2020 until November 2022.

Victor Glover, Pilot

As a flight engineer aboard the space station for Expedition 64, Glover contributed to scientific investigations, technology demonstrations, and participated in four spacewalks logging 168 days in space.

Christina Hammock Koch, Mission Specialist

Koch served as flight engineer aboard the space station for Expeditions 59, 60, and 61. Koch set a record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman with a total of 328 days in space and participated in the first all-female spacewalks.

Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist

Representing Canada, Hansen was one of two recruits selected by CSA in May 2009 through the third Canadian Astronaut Recruitment Campaign and has served as Capcom in NASA's Mission Control Center at Johnson and, in 2017, became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class, leading the training of astronaut candidates from the United States and Canada.

Enjoy the Artemis II mission video below.

Enjoy the gallery below.

Johnson Volunteers Join Artemis II Crew for NCAA Final Four Championship Game

American chemist and NASA astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson performed the national anthem at the NCAA Men’s Final Four and National Championship Game at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Credits: NASA/David DeHoyos