'If I wanted to go to space, I would have stayed at NASA': What's next for Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover after his mission to the moon

NASA astronaut Victor Glover is now "astronaut emeritus." He's hanging up his spacesuit for a position he hopes can guide the future engineering and science leaders of tomorrow.

Glover, who served as pilot on NASA's Artemis II mission that flew around the moon in April, officially began his new role as executive advisor to Jeff Armstrong, president of the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly),on Sept.

1, and is stepping away from the majority of his duties at the space agency.

NASA announced on Sept.

9 that Glover, as well as Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman , are transitioning to emeritus status beginning this month, but are not retiring from the agency outright.

Even astronauts who do fully retire from NASA are still retained "in the system," Glover told Space.com, "but I actually get to have a badge that is a little bit different.

I can come back.

I have a NASA email address.

I still work closely with the agency.

I'm considered a special government employee." "It allows me to have just a slightly more robust and meaningful relationship with NASA," Glover said — but "more robust" won't necessarily equate to the same daily commitment.

His role at Cal Poly will be full-time, according to the university , but he's not exactly going to be putting in typical work hours there either.

"We're still figuring it out," he said.

"It's not going to be nine to five.

I'm not a faculty member.